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MICHELE NARDI 



Michele Nardi 

^=^^ THE 

Italian Evangelist 

HIS LIFE 
AND WORK 



Compiled by 
Rev. A. B. Simpson 



Published by 
Mrs. Blanche P. Nardi, 

69O EIGHTH AVENUE 
NEW YORK 



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COPYRIGHTED I916 
BY MRS. BLANCHE P. NARDI 



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MAY II 1916 



CI.A431224 









PREFACE 

IT is the supreme glory of some noble 
lives that the man himself was greater than 
his work or the story of his achievements. 
It is difficult for this reason to do justice to 
the portrait of Michele Nardi. He was 
unique, original, intense, dramatic, and diffi- 
cult to translate into ordinary terms of ex- 
pression. Who can forget the way he used 
to say "Praise the Lord"? Who can forget 
his shining and transparent face, and his pose 
and attitude eloquent of force and deep sin- 
cerity? He carried his heart on his sleeve 
and was "a living epistle, known and read of 
all men." 

The writer counts it a great privilege to 
have even a modest part in making his life and 
testimony live and continue to speak for the 
voice that now is still. He had the privilege 
of knowing him from the beginning of his 
career, and knowing him and his beloved wife 
intimately. The following sketch is really the 
simple story, which her own loving hand has 
traced, slightly revised and reconstructed for 



4 Michele Nardi 

better literary effect. But the simplicity of 
the story is its real charm, and the unaffected- 
ness of the little volume will make both their 
lives more intensely real to the large circle 
who knew and loved them so well. 

The story is further extended in the testi- 
monies of many friends, who have gladly unit- 
ed to bring their tributes of affection and vene- 
ration to his sacred memory. Among these 
we are permitted to include Rev. A. F. Schauf- 
fler, President of the New York City Mission, 
who has kindly consented to write the intro- 
duction; Mrs. S. G. Beck, of Germantown, to 
whom the volume is respectfully dedicated; 
Rev. Dr. Ely, Rev. Mr. Agide Perazzini, and 
others. 

It is not necessary that the writer should 
add to these testimonies. The life story speaks 
for itself. We thank God for the life that 
was behind it, and the works that do follow. 

A. B. Simpson. 
New York, March 20, 1916. 



This volume is lovingly dedicated to 

MRS. SARAH G. BECK, 

Germantown, Pa., 

the generous helper in every noble cause and 

the lifelong friend of Michele and 

Blanche Nardi 



INTRODUCTION 

HTHE REV. MICHELE NARDI, whose 

■*■ biography is herewith issued, was a re- 
markable man. The story of his life is so 
fully told in the following pages that by 
way of introduction little seems to be called 
for. That little will naturally take the form 
of "An Appreciation" by the undersigned. 

My first acquaintance with Mr. Nardi 
dates back some years when I went to Phil- 
adelphia to assist him in work he was at 
that time carrying on among the Italians in 
that city. I then at once saw he was a man 
of unusual oratorical gifts and that he had a 
strong hold on the hearts of his fellow- 
countrymen who had gathered at the serv- 
ices over which he had presided. In due 
time the New York City Mission was look- 
ing for a man to take the place of its veteran 
Italian pastor, the Rev. A. A. Arrighi, and 
the Society was quite persuaded that there 
was no more acceptable and reliable man 
than just the one whom I had heard in 
Philadelphia. We then issued him a call, 



S Michele Nardi 

and for about six years he had charge of our 

Italian Mission in Charlton Street, which 
during this time became the Charlton 
Street Memorial Church, and for about two 
years he also had charge of the Italian 
work in the Broome Street Tabernacle. Here 
Mr. Nardi was instant in season and out of 
season, not only preaching and teaching, 
but visiting incessantly, like the apostle 
Paul, from house to house, beseeching every 
man to be reconciled to Cod. Mr. Nardi 
was a man possessed with the Spirit of his 
Master, and for him it was "meat and drink" 
to do the will of his Heavenly Father, As 
a pulpit orator he manifested all the fervor 
of his race. His preaching, however, was 
thoroughly evangelical and evangelistic; his 
only aim being to bring everyone into vital 
union with Christ as his Saviour, and then 
to build them up in their Christian life, so 
that they in turn should be winners of souls. 
He believed in the Word and always 
preached it faithfully, never turning aside to 
political or other themes and never indulg- 
ing in the clap-trap of cheap attacks on the 
Catholic Church. His one aim was to set up 



The Italian Evangelist 9 

a standard of truth as laid down in the Bible 
and let all else take care of itself. 

While he was with the City Mission, he 
also cooperated in the Evangelistic Summer 
Tent Work ; and here too he was a tower of 
strength. Italian audiences always hung 
on his words, and were fascinated by the 
message that he had to give. 

In 1913 Mr. Nardi left us to return to his 
native land, and the City Mission parted 
with him with sincere regret and with feel- 
ings of high esteem for the splendid work 
he had done while with us. The same fer- 
vor which he displayed while in New York 
manifested itself in Italy. Practically, Mr. 
Nardi burned himself out. Had he been 
more sparing of his strength, his ministry 
would undoubtedly have been more pro- 
longed. He felt that he must work while it 
was day, and so he flamed on, until his light 
swiftly went out, and he entered into that 
life where all is light, where there is no 
weakness, or weariness, or cessation of serv- 
ice, and where in his Master's presence he 
can realize that larger life and perfect serv- 
ice of which he often spoke to his congrega- 



io Michele Nardi 

tions. The City Mission is glad that it had 
the privilege of having Mr. Nardi in its 
work for so many years. 

A. F. SCHAUFFLER, D.D., 

President N. Y. City Mission Society. 



Chapter I 

BIRTH, EARLY LIFE, AND CON- 
VERSION 

MICHELE NARDI'S start in life was 
not without a touch of romance. He 
was born in 1859, at Savignano di Romagna, 
Province of Forli, on the river Rubicon; 
his birthplace being just where Julius Caesar 
had crossed it. His parents were Roman 
Catholics; his father, a merchant. 

At the age of seventeen he joined the 
Army under Garibaldi and was afterwards 
awarded two medals for distinguished 
bravery. 

When he was about nineteen, he went to 
Florence to study Antiquary, and remained 
for three years. It was here that he 
came in contact with an English family who 
took a great interest in him and taught him 
to speak English. He also became acquaint- 
ed with many tourists from England and 
America who traveled through Italy. 

America 

IT was at the persuasion of some of these, 
that he came to America, where he was 



12 Michele Nardi 

promised better opportunities than in his 
native land. Like many others, his main 
purpose was to attain wealth. 

As he was of the higher class of Italians, 
educated, of stately demeanor, and very gen- 
tle in manners, he won the confidence of all 
who knew him. 

But upon his arrival in America he found 
that his profession did not give him a suffi- 
cient income. It was too new a country to 
give much oportunity for antiquarian stud- 
ies. About this time, another Italian, who 
had been in America some years before and 
had become acquainted with "Get-rich- 
quick" methods, laid some plans before Mr. 
Nardi by which they could make a great 
deal of money. 

Business Ventures 

ACCORDINGLY they took contracts 
to build railroads, for which purpose 
they employed their fellow countrymen, 
who did their work so well that the Irish, 
who were giving a lot of trouble and doing 
inferior work, were set aside, and the Ital- 
ians flocked to this country by the hundreds. 



The Italian Evangelist 13 

These two men were among the first to in- 
troduce Italian labor into America. 

But, by the time they were established in 
their new-found joy of making money by 
the thousand, the Jay Gould failure visited 
them with others, and for the time ruined 
their business. 

The news of the excellent work done by 
these Italian contractors soon spread. But 
times were very hard, and the Italians were 
starving in New York City. 

In Pittsburgh, the "Molly Maguire" 
trouble was raging. But a few of the mine 
owners decided to try the Italians, of whose 
good work they had heard. The mine own- 
ers came to New York, and Nardi and his 
companion signed a contract to mine coal 
for a Pittsburgh coal company. 

They loaded a train with Italians, who 
were glad to do anything to keep from starv- 
ing. But when they arrived in Pittsburgh, 
they were met by a raging mob who wanted 
to kill the newcomers, none of whom could 
speak English but Mr. Nardi and his part- 
ner. Taking in the situation, one of them 
slipped out through the throng and soon re- 
turned with weapons with which to defend 



14 Michele Nardi 

themselves. All knew how to fight, and 
they did fight, led by Nardi, and in time 
the "Molly Maguires" were driven out. But 
for all this trouble and danger (for they had 
to fight continually for their lives) they re- 
ceived no pay. 

Disappointed in this adventure, they 
again returned to railroad contracting in 
the western part of Pennsylvania. Once, 
when they had one road almost completed, a 
flood came and did a great deal of damage, 
destroying about twenty thousand dollars' 
worth of work. But in spite of these losses, 
Nardi was still full of hope, and pressed on. 

Again hard times set in, and his Italian 
countrymen were starving. His heart went 
out to them, and he wanted to help 
them. Hearing that a firm in Pittsburgh 
was anxious to get a charcoal that would 
meet their requirements, he consulted some 
of his men who had followed the business 
of burning charcoal in Italy, and, having 
obtained the desired information, he laid his 
method before the company. They at once 
accepted his proposal and agreed to try the 
new charcoal. 

At the same time a colony of Economites, 



The Italian Evangelist 15 

who had settled near Pittsburgh, were clear- 
ing a large tract of land. Hearing of their 
desire to dispose of the lumber, he applied 
for the contract to remove it. He took sev- 
eral hundred men out in the woods, and for 
two years they turned out the best charcoal 
that had ever been used in Pittsburgh up to 
that time. During this time he also acted 
as Consul for the Italians in Pittsburgh. 

Revisits Italy 

MEANWHILE he made frequent visits 
to Italy to see his mother and friends. 

But during all these ten years in America 
no one had offered him a Bible. 

On one of his trips to Europe he met an 
American business man at the Paris Expo- 
sition in 1878, who later played an impor- 
tant part in the change that occurred in Mr. 
Nardi's life. The American was exhibiting 
his patented articles at the Paris Exposition 
where Nardi joined him and worked for 
him, and they became very intimate. Mr. 
Nardi was a great help to him because of his 
knowledge of French. He could also speak 
German fluently, having acquired it at 
Economy, among the Germans. 



16 Michele Nardi 

They both returned to America after the 
Exposition, Mr. Nardi to his business in 
Pittsburgh, and the American to his home. 

But the latter, while visiting his sister, re- 
ceived what she had been praying and prais- 
ing God for, for seven years, — his salvation. 

Mr. Nardi was again contracting, and was 
doing nicely in his business. He also took 
an interest in stocks, and by shrewd invest- 
ments was on his way to acquire his desire: 
namely, wealth. 

New Religious Influences 

IT was while in Philadelphia, looking af- 
ter his business in the Stock Exchange, 
that he again visited his American friend, 
who was no longer the man he had once 
known. There were now some things which 
they could no longer enjoy together, for as 
the American said, "I was dead, but now I 
live." This man had prayed much that God 
would show him how to reach his Italian 
friend with the Gospel. He asked him if he 
had ever read the Bible, to which Mr. Nardi 
answered "No." He said he knew nothing 
about it, and that no one had ever ap- 
proached him concerning the things of the 



The Italian Evangelist 17 

Bible, although he had lived among Protest- 
ants all these years. The American then 
asked him to read the Bible, giving him a 
large Bible of family size. But Mr. Nardi 
told him he had not the time to read such a 
big book, so his friend marked a portion 
for him to read. Mr. Nardi took it to his 
hotel to please- his friend, having promised 
to read the portion which was marked. 

His Conversion 

WHILE waiting for his dinner, he re- 
membered his promise (and being 
conscientious he wished to keep it) ; so he 
turned to the marked portion which 
was John 1 : 12. A man of quick perception, 
he at once noticed his privilege to become a 
son of God. He immediately told the Lord 
that he wanted to be His son, and he then 
and there accepted Christ as his Saviour, 
and had the joy of knowing his sins for- 
given. 

But while Mr. Nardi was reading, there 
were seven people praying that God would 
make His Word life to this Italian friend. 

Mr. Nardi prayed to God in simple faith, 
saying, "If Thou wilt give me power to become 



1 8 Michele Nardi 

Thy son, I want to be Thy son right now." 
God answered prayer, and he jumped to 
his feet and said, "Praise the Lord." Then 
he heard the call of God to forsake all and 
follow Him. 

So deep was the work of God in his soul 
that he went to the Stock Exchange at once 
and asked them to strike his name from the 
list. Mr. Nardi had bought stocks at a time 
when their value had dropped, but now they 
were increasing, so that in a few days he 
would have made a large sum of money. 
The man in the Exchange thought he had 
gone crazy, but he soon told him of his new- 
found joy and explained to him why he took 
this attitude. 

He then returned to Pittsburgh and as 
soon as possible closed out his business 
there. 

Separation and Meditation 

HE next went to Economy, and taking his 
English Bible and a few blankets, he 
settled himself in a little hut in the woods 
to study God's Word. For some months 
he lived in entire seclusion. But after much 
persuasion on the part of some of his 



The Italian Evangelist 19 

friends, who finally discovered his where- 
abouts, he forsook his little hut and lived 
for a while in a private home. He was dis- 
covered by some one's seeing the tracks in the 
snow and following them to the little hut 
where Nardi was living without fire or furni- 
ture. Once, when asked how he kept warm, 
he said it must have been the Holy Spirit Who 
kept him warm. 

While here he studied his English Bible 
(for he knew no other), and soon he saw 
that certain words were used a great many 
times; so he set those words together, giv- 
ing their references. At the time he thought 
he had discovered something useful ; but 
when he came out of his seclusion, he found 
that a concordance had been in use for many 
years. 

Visits New York 

WHILE in Economy, he received a 
few Methodist papers in which was 
announced the Tuesday afternoon Holiness 
meeting, in the house of Mrs. Sarah Palmer, 
316 E. 15th St., New York. He cut out this 
address and with several others put it in his 
pocket. He placed these addresses in differ- 



20 Michele Nardi 

ent pockets so that, in case he should lose 
one, he could still find another. He decided 
to go to New York and attend those 
meetings. 

Denominationalism did not appeal to him, 
because he could not understand it; but 
when he walked along 23d Street, in New 
York City, one day, he saw the sign, "Gos- 
pel Tabernacle." He said to himself, "This 
is the place for me." He attended the meet- 
ing and found the teaching just what he had 
learned in his Bible. He there heard Dr. 
Simpson, Major Cole, Henry Varley, and 
others. During one of the services, an invi- 
tation was given for any one who wished to 
dedicate himself to the Lord to come for- 
ward. Mr. Nardi responded, and the above- 
named with three others, laid their hands on 
him and set him apart for the Lord's service. 
He never accepted another ordination, 
though many tried to have him officially 
ordained. 

About this time the Camp Meetings were 
in full swing at Ocean Grove. He went 
there, and during one of their meetings he 
gave his testimony to what the Lord had 
done for him. Later he was asked to give 



The Italian Evangelist 21 

it before the assembly from the platform, 
because all who heard him were much im- 
pressed with the sincerity of this one who 
seemed to stand alone among Italians at that 
time in this country as a Protestant. 

In Mrs. Palmer's Home 

AMONG the many who heard him was 
Mrs. Sarah Palmer from New York 
City, and she was so impressed by what he 
said, as well as by his earnestness, that she 
afterwards went to the Gospel Tabernacle in 
New York and asked where she might find 
that Italian. She left word with Mr. Simp- 
son that she wished to see him. Accord- 
ingly he went to the Tuesday afternoon 
meeting held in her home. Mrs. Palmer had 
a conference with him, and after much per- 
suasion, he consented to live in her hospit- 
able home. Her object was to teach the 
young man the way of God more perfectly. 
It was while here that he met many holy 
men and women of God who all left their 
impress on his character, among them prom- 
inent Methodist Bishops and leaders in the 
church, who were entertained at Mrs. Pal- 
mer's home during those four years. 



22 Michele Nardi 



D 



Bible Training 

URING these years he became root- 
ed and grounded in the truth, which 
must have had much to do with his success 
in later years. He also did much personal 
work among his own countrymen in hospi- 
tals, and prisons, and among the fruit-ven- 
ders of New York. At this time there was 
only one Italian Protestant church in New 
York, under the leadership of Rev. Antonio 
Arrighi. 

He took every opportunity to hear the 
best Bible teachers and frequently attended 
the lectures at the Missionary Training 
School, though he was not an enrolled stu- 
dent. But his one book and instructor was 
the Bible. 

The success of his work among the Ital- 
ian unfortunates was so evident that even 
the Italian Press gave him recognition and 
wrote occasional accounts of it. In one of 
these articles they used this beautiful expres- 
sion — "They could point to him and say, 
'There goes the man who was born with the 
Golden heart/ " 

Up to this time he did not feel led to open 



The Italian Evangelist 23 



any regular mission among his people, but 
confined his efforts to doing personal work 
and speaking in other missions and 
churches. 

Marriage 

DURING the few years that he was in 
New York, he met one of the students 
at the Missionary Training School, Miss 
Blanche Phillips, who afterwards became his 
wife. They were married in the home of Mr. 
Kinney at Sing Sing, by Rev. A. B. Simpson. 
The ceremony was very impressive, Mr. Nardi 
following it, while they were still kneel- 
ing, by prayer. Even the colored caterer 
said that it was a holy marriage. The invi- 
tations to the wedding had on them this in- 
scription, "Both Jesus and His disciples were 
called to the marriage." The power of the 
Lord was surely present, to which the 
guests all testified. 



Chapter II 

EVANGELISTIC WORK 

AFTER a few months Mr. and Mrs. 
Nardi left for the West, to begin their 
pioneer work among their dear Italians. 
Their first stopping place was East Pitts- 
burgh, where they visited the sister of Mrs. 
Nardi and found to their glad surprise sev- 
eral hundred Italian laborers working on a 
new car track, on Highland Avenue. They 
immediately began visiting them in their 
shanties, distributing tracts during the day, 
and visiting in the homes at night. They 
spent all day Sunday with them and 
preached to them in the open air. One Sun- 
day morning in particular that Mrs. Nardi 
recalls, they went out on a vacant lot back 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and 
there Mr. Nardi preached in power to a 
large crowd who had gathered, and many 
listened from their windows and back yards. 
At the close of the meeting there were nine 
who bought Bibles from a representative of 



The Italian Evangelist 25 

the Bible Society who was present. Some 
Irish Catholics who were present called out 
"Protestant ! Protestant !" and at once some 
of those who had bought the Bibles became 
frightened and brought the Bibles back ; but 
Mr. Nardi soon assured them that they con- 
tained the true Gospel of Salvation, after 
which they kept them. For about six weeks 
they continued their work among the Ital- 
ians of Pittsburgh. 

About this time they heard that great 
numbers of Italians were in Chicago, and 
Mr. Nardi felt called to go to preach to 
them also. However, the work in Pitts- 
burgh had its lasting effect, for a few ladies 
became interested in the work among the 
Italians, and soon started a mission which 
later developed into the Italian Presbyter- 
ian Church in East Liberty. These ladies 
extended a call to a young Waldensian min- 
ister directly from Italy who responded to 
the call and was much used of God in the 
early days of the mission. Mr. Nardi fre- 
quently visited the field. At the present 
time there are several Italian Churches and 
Missions in Pittsburgh and vicinity. 



26 Michele Nardi 

Other Cities Also 

SOME Temperance ladies in New Castle 
heard of the Italian Evangelist in 
Pittsburgh and gave him an invitation to 
come and speak to the Italians in that 
town. They went and visited them in their 
homes, distributing tracts, gospels, and Bi- 
bles, and many were converted. Beaver 
Falls and Carbon Hill were also visited and 
meetings held at these places, and tracts, 
Gospels, and Bibles distributed from 
shanty to shanty and house to house 
through the snow. The opposition on the 
part of some was awful, but others received 
the Word gladly and became new creatures 
in Christ Jesus. 

While they opened no missions at these 
places, they sowed the seed, and others fol- 
lowed to reap. There are now promising 
churches and missions in these places 
which were started since their first visit. 

Their work was not confined to the Ital- 
ians, but Mr. Nardi also preached to Amer- 
icans everywhere he went. 

They also visited Youngstown and spent 
one month in work for the Master there. 



The Italian Evangelist 2j 

The Italians in these towns were employed 
in quarrying stone and doing similar work, and 
lived in mere huts. One Sunday morning 
they went through the field of snow to the 
stone quarry to a little shanty where they 
found five Italians; one was rolling out the 
macaroni, and one was reading the Gospel. 
Mr. and Mrs. Nardi sat down on oil cans 
(chairs were not in evidence) and had a 
meeting with them. 

Once when they had announced a meet- 
ing, the Italians prepared for the service by 
erecting an altar, draping it nicely, setting 
the cross on it, and lighting the candles, — 
and while they were waiting, they smoked in 
the same room. It showed their interest on 
one hand and their need to know the truth on 
the other. 

Some of those who were converted returned 
later to Italy and have been among the Pro- 
testant leaders there. They carried the Gos- 
pel (their new-found treasure) to their loved 
ones in Italy, and some of the most substan- 
tial work there has been done by those con- 
verted in America. 



28 Michele Nardi 

Chicago 

ARRIVING in Chicago, they inquired 
where the Italians had their settlement, 
and were told that they could find many of 
them on South Clark Street. Finding them in 
great numbers in the streets, they at once be- 
gan their work among them in the open air. 

While attending a noon-day prayer meeting, 
a Christian brother offered the use of the 
second floor of his coal office for a Mission 
to the Italians in "Hell's Half Acre," which 
was considered the worst part of Chicago. 
They accepted the offer and set about at 
once to get it in order, by cleaning, scouring, 
and whitewashing, until it was quite a nice 
hall. The neighborhood was so bad that the 
man did not want to rent those rooms to any 
one else, so he was glad to let it out free of 
charge as a Mission Hall. The first seats 
were made of planks which had been stored 
on the roof, and an old organ which they 
found about the building was their first musi- 
cal instrument. 

The first meeting was held on Sunday after- 
noon. Mr. Nardi went down on the streets 
and invited the men to come in and hear the 



The Italian Evangelist 29 

Gospel. They asked " Where?" and he said, 
"Come and see." Seven followed him, and 
he preached to them. The hall soon filled up, 
and the work grew rapidly. Some American 
ladies, who became interested in the work, 
wanted to do something for these needy peo- 
ple. They opened a Polytechnic school for the 
boys and girls in the neighborhood who were 
newsboys and girls and bootblacks, and also 
a kindergarten for the little ones in the morn- 
ings. Some of the workers from the Bible 
Society came down and opened a Sunday- 
school and a sewing school. So the work 
prospered. Much could be said about what 
God did among these Italians, if space per- 
mitted. 

There were a few Evangelical families of 
the Waldensian Church of Italy who lived 
on the North Side of Chicago. Hearing of 
Mr. Nardi and the meeting, they came to the 
South Clark Street Mission and brought with 
them Italian hymn books. They then per- 
suaded Mr. Nardi to come over on the North 
Side and hold meetings in their colony. For 
several weeks he preached to them in a Scan- 
dinavian Y. M. C. A. every Sunday night. 
This, however, was only a temporary abode. 



30 Michele Nardi 

About this time Mr. Nardi met Mr. Sim- 
mons, a godly man, Land Commissioner for 
the Northwestern Railroad, who used his in- 
fluence to secure the R. R. Y. M. C. A. hall 
right in the vicinity of the Italians. They 
gave the hall, — heat, light, and all — free of 
charge for a few years, and it was here that 
the first Italian Church of Chicago was or- 
ganized with a membership of 54, April 17th, 
1892. 

A large colony of Italians were found living 
on the Southwest side of Chicago. Mr. Nardi 
felt led of the Lord to open a work here. 
Renting a cottage of five rooms, he tore down 
all the partitions, making one large hall which 
seated 150 people. The rent was fifteen dol- 
lars a month. 

Here they had much persecution from the 
Irish Catholics. But the Lord mightily 
blessed all three Missions. Here also the 
Bible Society workers came to their help, and 
soon there was a large Sunday-school, and 
sewing school, and evening classes in English 
where the Bible was the text-book. In this 
way many were caught in the net. Much 
might be said of the work done in these three 
Missions. 



The Italian Evangelist 31 

About this time they felt their need of a 
helper, and a Waldensian minister, Mr. Theo- 
philus Gai from Italy, while in this country 
collecting money for the work in Italy, came to 
Chicago, and, hearing of the Italian work, 
came to visit Mr. Nardi. This was the first 
time Mr. Nardi had met a real Waldensian 
(that is, a Waldensian born). Mr. Gai went 
with Mr. Nardi from mission to mission and 
was greatly surprised at the power of God 
manifested among the Italians. Mr. Nardi 
asked him if he could send him a young man 
filled with the Holy Ghost who would come. 
He replied that he had a "real Barnabas" 
who had been in America but was now in 
Italy. 

Up to this time the work had been done in- 
dependently trusting only in the Lord, and 
appealing to no one for financial help. 

The Work Taken Over by the 
Presbyterians 

BUT now the work had become known to 
the Presbyterians, and they offered to 
take hold of it and pay the salary of the 
young minister when he would come. Ere 
long Mr. Grilli came from Italy and took hold 
of the work with great enthusiasm. 



32 Michele Nardi 

For some time it was felt that a building of 
their own on the North Side was needed. A 
Mr. Willing, of the Fourth Presbyterian 
Church, gave ten thousand dollars for this 
purpose, and a very neat church building was 
soon erected on West Ohio Street. The Mis- 
sion then removed from the R. R. Y. M. C. A. 
hall to the new church. 

Italian Work 

THE Presbyterian Board of Chicago short- 
ly after published the following report — 
in the Interior: 

"The work among the Italians in our own 
Presbytery has two principal centers, the 
Italian church at 73 West Ohio street, near 
Halsted, and the Nardi Mission at 148 West 
Taylor street. The latter was named for Sig- 
nor Nardi who was among the first to inaugur- 
ate Protestant mission work among the Ital- 
ians in Chicago. The recital of the experi- 
ences of Signor Nardi since he first came to 
this country is in itself most interesting. 
Finely educated and an artist of note, he came 
to America to be an art critic. Arriving in 
New York City, his attention was ar- 
rested by the distress among his country- 



The Italian Evangelist 33 

men in and around Five Points, and he 
at once began the study of bettering 
their condition. The further he investigated, 
the more enthused he became and finally de- 
cided to abandon art for the time being. He 
submitted a plan to one of the eastern rail- 
roads to take a contract for building their 
road-bed using only Italians as laborers, him- 
self superintending the work. His proposi- 
tion was accepted; and although it created 
quite a furor among the Irish and American 
laborers, as many will recall, it was success- 
fully carried out. At that time he refused all 
religions, even that of his mother country, 
and not until some months later did he accept 
Christ and his teachings. After studying un- 
der the direction of the Rev. A. B. Simpson 
of New York city, Mr. Nardi and his wife, 
also a student of Dr. Simpson's, began evan- 
gelistic work, coming to Chicago in 1889. Mr. 
and Mrs. Nardi together with workers of the 
Chicago Bible society held meetings in cot- 
tages, on street corners, or visited from 
house to house, giving the gospel to Italians 
whenever opportunity presented itself, the 
Bible society furnishing tracts and portions 
of Scripture for distribution. The following 



34 Michele Nardi 

spring Mr. Nardi secured a room at 505 South 
Clark street and organized a Sunday-school. 
About the same time the Young Men's Chris- 
tian Association gave the use of their hall 
near Kinzie street bridge for another Sun- 
day-school. It was at this latter place that 
the first communion service among Protes- 
tant Italians was held, and the growing in- 
terest soon centered in that district. There 
was a Waldensian element which formed the 
nucleus of a church, and God's blessing was 
manifest in frequent conversions. By the 
following winter a few friends became inter- 
ested in the progress of the work, and among 
them was the ever to be remembered friend 
of the Nardi Mission, Mrs. S. G. Hubbard, 
whose devoted efforts for the Italians are 
still continued. In 1893 the Chicago Pres- 
bytery permanently located a church and re- 
quested Mr. Nardi to become its regular pas- 
tor, but he declined, believing that God had 
called him to evangelistic work. A call was ex- 
tended to the present pastor, the Rev. Filippo 
Grilli, who began his pastorate early in the 
autumn of 1890, with a church membership of 
fifty-eight. In 1894 the present substantial 
brick edifice on Ohio street was erected, due 



The Italian Evangelist 35 

largely to the generosity of Mr. Henry Will- 
ing. In 1 89 1 Mr. Nardi opened the third mis- 
sion, which had its beginning on Desplaines 
street and continued there until a more suit- 
able building and location were secured on 
Taylor street, now called the Nardi Mission. 
The work begun on South Clark street was 
subsequently merged with that of the Metho- 
dist Mission, and a most excellent work is 
being accomplished. Pastor Grilli preaches 
and carries on the work at both the Italian 
church and Nardi Mission. Mrs. Grilli is a 
most proficient helper as is also Mrs. R. 
Francesconi, who is superintendent of the 
Sunday-school in the Italian church. Beside 
the regular preaching services, conducted 
always in Italian, there is a splendid Sunday- 
school, sewing school, a mother's meeting, and 
a Bible class under the leadership of the 
Bible society. The work is a continual en- 
couragement to those who are giving their 
services, and the wonder is that these Italians 
have carried their church and mission to 
such a successful standing with so little 
money. Members of the church who have re- 
turned to Italy have started circles there 
looking toward the organizing of a church. 



36 Michele Nardi 

The Evangelical church of Italy, which is 
the union of all the Protestant churches on 
the peninsula, report five new churches added 
to its roll during 1897, giving a total of thirty- 
Protestant churches. About 1,000 persons 
have come into close fellowship within the 
past year." 

E. Dryer, Chicago. 

Among the Miners 

MR. NARDI now felt that he had time 
to visit the collieries. A superintend- 
ent of coal mines at Spring Valley, fifty miles 
from Chicago, a Presbyterian who had heard 
of the good work that was being done in Chi- 
cago, invited Mr. Nardi to come down and 
see what he could do for the Italians who 
worked in the mines. The Italian colony there 
was composed of Italians from the northern 
part of Italy. Many of them were well edu- 
cated, but not having the English language, 
worked in the mines. However, they earned 
as much as four dollars a day if they were 
good workmen. 

A hall was rented, and work began. Sing- 
ing was quite a drawing card, as some of the 



The Italian Evangelist 37 

men had been opera singers in Italy. When 
they were taught the beautiful Italian hymns, 
"Safe in the arms of Jesus/' etc., they sang 
them with such force that they could be heard 
all over the town during the service. In the 
day time, when these men were about two 
thousand feet under the ground, they would 
sing the hymns there, especially "Safe in the 
arms of Jesus." 

The majority of the population of this town 
were Irish Catholics, so that they even con- 
trolled the public schools, and the Protestants 
had to send their children to the Catholic 
school. As soon as the Irish priests saw what 
Mr. Nardi was doing, they sent off for an 
Italian priest. He was a good musician, and, 
to counteract Mr. Nardi's work, he opened 
evening classes in music. But the Lord was 
with Mr. Nardi in his meetings and in the 
distribution of Gospels and tracts. The Ital- 
ian priest came to him and had a talk with 
him, but the priest was so bound that he 
could not let go. 

As many Italians were eager to learn Eng- 
lish, Mr. Nardi taught it to them from the 
English Bible, and used the opportunity to 
preach the Gospel at the same time, and they 



38 Michele Nardi 

soon became more interested in the Gospel 
than in learning the English. 

Mrs. Nardi remembers an incident that oc- 
curred while in Spring Valley. A miner, who 
was also a Methodist preacher, meeting them 
on the street one day, said to Mr. Nardi, "I 
know you are a Christian, for your face is the 
picture of the Gospel." Mr. and Mrs. Nardi 
were glad to find this one and others with 
whom they could have fellowship. Mr. Nardi 
often also preached in English in the Congre- 
gational pulpit in the town. 

As the work grew, it was felt necessary to 
organize, and a Waldensian minister, Rev. 
Mr. Bellour, was called to take charge. 

The Italians became so much attached to 
Mr. and Mrs. Nardi and the Gospel that they 
preached, that they did not care to go to 
their Catholic priest, but said, "Mr. Nardi is 
our priest." 

They had now spent about five years in 
Chicago and Spring Valley. The Lord 
wonderfully answered prayer and supplied 
every need, without any appeals for help to 
any one except the Lord. Many were con- 
verted during those years who still stand firm 
in the Christian faith. 



The Italian Evangelist 39 

Mrs. Nardi never knew of any work so 
near the Apostolic times as that in Chicago. 
As soon as the people were converted, they 
became personal workers and held cottage 
prayer meetings and became real soul-win- 
ners. 

These were years when Mr. Nardi spared 
no strength in open air and in halls both in 
season and out of season. During this time 
he took a trip east for one month, visiting 
friends and some of the work that he had left 
in New York, in the interest of Italian Evan- 
gelization. Mrs. Nardi remained in Chicago 
looking after the work until Mr. Nardi re- 
turned. On his way home, he sent a tele- 
gram giving the time when he would arrive. 
She sat by the window waiting for his com- 
ing. But he did not come at the appointed 
time. But she waited on, expecting him every 
moment. 

She says: "After I had waited for some 
time, seated in the bay window by the door, 
the rest of the people in the house retired, 
telling me there was no use in sitting up longer, 
for he would not come that night ; it was past 
the appointed time. But I waited on. Finally, 
all had retired except Miss Dryer (the lady 



40 Michele Nardi 

in charge of the Bible Workers' home). As 
she passed through the room with her lamp in 
her hand, she said, 'He has delayed his com- 
ing; there is no use of waiting any longer/ 
But I answered, 'He promised to come, and I 
shall wait until he does come/ so she went 
away and left me alone. In the stillness of 
the night I heard a voice saying, 'He will be 
here in a few minutes/ With this assurance 
I lifted my head in real expectation, and had 
not long to wait, for the tip-tap-tap on the 
window pane showed he had indeed come. 
At that moment the same voice spoke again, 
and said, 'It will be like this before the Lord 
comes: the Bride will know it a little while 
before He comes/ " 

Work in St. Louis 

THE good news of God's working among 
the Italians of Chicago reaching St. 
Louis, Mrs. Haines, a woman of real faith, 
invited them to come to her city. The Italians 
of St. Louis were mostly from the southern 
part of Italy, Sicilians. We opened a hall 
in the midst of their colony, and many came 
to hear the Word gladly. These Italians are 



The Italian Evangelist 41 

very superstitious, yet they are open to the 
Gospel. The work went on much the same 
as in other places; preaching, and Sunday- 
school classes, and sewing classes, and then, 
after the work was established at the end of 
about a year's labor, a Waldensian pastor and 
his wife were called by the Presbyterian 
Board to take up the work. They remained 
here for nine years and then returned to Italy, 
w T here they are doing a good work. 

There was a French settlement where Mr. 
Nardi also preached the Gospel in French, 

Mr. Nardi now more clearly understood 
the calling of God to evangelize. So he re- 
turned to Chicago and visited the Missions 
and encouraged those in charge of the work. 

California 

ONE cold winter night Mr. and Mrs. 
Nardi said good-bye to their friends in 
Chicago and boarded the train for San 
Francisco, arriving there after a few days and 
finding the roses in full bloom. It seemed to 
them another world. Mr. and Mrs. Mont- 
gomery met them at the station and took 
them to their home, Beulah. 



42 Michele Nardi 

From here they crossed the Bay to San 
Francisco where there was a large colony of 
Italians, mostly from Northern Italy. 

Mr. Nardi at once started looking around 
for a hall where he might gather the people, 
and found a building belonging to the Italians 
called Bersagliere Hall, with many halls which 
were used for balls, theatres, Masonic Lodges, 
etc., but they willingly rented one of the large 
rooms at such a low price that Mr. Nardi in- 
sisted on paying more. 

The work began and, as before, the Lord 
blessed them, and sent in many to hear the 
Word. The Sunday school and sewing school 
classes were attended by more than one hun- 
dred children ; some had to be turned away. 

Here they had a class of French children, 
also Spanish and Portuguese, who also came 
to the services. There was much persecution 
as the work was in the midst of Irish, Italian, 
Spanish, and Russian Catholic churches. The 
priest came even to the door of the hall and 
forbade the children to come in. One day he 
came to the door, and Mr. Nardi went down 
and spoke to him. The priest said, "I am 
the father of these children." Mr. Nardi said. 
"No, you are not; God is their Father 



The Italian Evangelist 43 

Another time the priest threw his cane at the 
children. Again Mr. Nardi and the priest 
were arguing while walking along the street, 
and soon about thirty children were following 
them and the grown people looking on. As 
soon as the priest saw that, he said good-bye 
and left Mr. Nardi. The children then fol- 
lowed Mr. Nardi back to the hall, saying they 
would never go to that priest again. 

Mr. Nardi had already won the confidence 
of many of the influential Italians of the city. 
They saw in him the love of God and the love 
of his countrymen, and said he was a rare 
man. God had peculiarly fitted him for just 
such work ; he was unique in personality, wise 
in judgment, and full of tact and sweetness. 
All who knew him remember his genial smile 
and ever ready salutation, "Praise the Lord/' 

The Catholic Journal of the city wrote an 
article against him, even saying that he ought 
to have a mill-stone hanged about his neck and 
be drowned in the bottom of the sea. They 
marked this article and sent it to him. He did 
not reply to it. But the Italian paper and also 
an anti-Clerical, "The Wasp/' took it up and 
answered it much better than they could have 
done. This was all in their favor and against 



44 Michele Nardi 

the priests. Again they were conquerors 
through our God. 

After a year, feeling the need of a helper, 
a Waldensian minister was called, who went 
on with the work, supported by the Presby- 
terian Church. Mr. and Mrs. Nardi then 
went across the Bay to Oakland, where they 
had a beautiful hall in the Methodist Church. 
Here, as elsewhere, there were people who be- 
came interested in the work and came to their 
help and acted in the capacity of teachers in 
the schools. 

Needs Supplied 

DURING this time the Lord supplied all 
their needs without looking to man. 
"Once," says Mrs. Nardi, "we asked Him for 
sixty dollars, and in a few days a check of 
fifty dollars came from Chicago. I said to 
Mr. Nardi, 'But where are the other ten?' 
He said, 'The Lord will provide/ When he 
took the check to the bank, they refused to 
cash it because the lady had forgotten to put 
her name on it. So he returned the check to 
her. When the check came back, lo! it was 
sixty dollars. The lady said she thought she 



The Italian Evangelist 45 

might as well add another ten, not knowing 
that we had prayed for the sixty. We always 
avoided using the phrase, 'We live by faith/ 
as every Christian, even a millionaire, must 
live by faith, but surely, 'The just shall live by 
faith/ The Lord never failed us." 

One morning Mr. Nardi was in one room 
asking the Lord for one hundred dollars, and 
Mrs. Nardi was in another room asking for 
the same amount; neither knowing what the 
other was doing. That very day a sister in 
Christ said to Mrs. Nardi, "Blanche, the Lord 
told my husband to give Mr. Nardi one hun- 
dred dollars. Is there really a need?" She 
replied, "Praise the Lord, the connections are 
clear." 

San Jose 

IN San Jose, a beautiful town about fifty 
miles from San Francisco, they also 
opened a work and rented a house just oppo- 
site the Notre Dame Convent, but the owner 
of the house was an Irish Catholic ; and when 
he found out that they were preaching the 
Gospel to the Italians who came and listened 
with eyes and mouths wide open, just drink- 
ing it in, he requested them to move. Mr. 



46 Michele Nardi 

Nardi had a long talk with him, explaining to 
him the way of salvation from the Scriptures, 
of which he was entirely ignorant. But as the 
priests and his mother were behind him, he 
requested them to leave, They then rented a 
beautiful Y. M. C. A. hall and carried on a 
blessed work for a year or so. The fragrant 
memories of those days were sweeter to them 
than the flowers that grow in California. 

New Fields 

WHILE in these parts, they also went 
in the summer time more than once 
to the Casadero Camp Meeting held by Mr. 
and Mrs. Montgomery, not thinking to find 
Italians under the big Redwoods. But almost 
one of the first ones they saw on the ground 
was an Italian fruit vender, through whom 
they learned that about ten miles away where 
he lived there was a colony of Italian lumber- 
men. 

Mr. Nardi invited them to the camp for a 
Sunday service, and they came and had good 
meetings. They were taught some Italian 
hymns and received Gospels and tracts. 
Among them were some who had worked for 
Mr. Nardi in Economy near Pittsburgh. 



The Italian Evangelist 47 

Once during a meeting in the fine natural au- 
ditorium there, nine Italians came forward, 
among others, to seek the Lord. At one time 
about six weeks were spent here working 
among the Italians. 

Mr. Nardi printed a sign in large letters, 
"Praise the Lord," and nailed it on a tree 
near the railroad so that the people passing by 
the camp on the train had to see it and say 
"Praise the Lord." 

Hearing that there were many Italians in 
Southern California who had not heard the 
Gospel, Mr. Nardi made plans to visit them 
also. But about this time Rev. Mr. Grilli, of 
Chicago, returned to Italy to visit his mother, 
and asked Mr. Nardi to come on and look 
after the work during his absence. Mrs. 
Nardi remained in San Francisco. 

Back in Chicago 

THERE was need of a new building on 
the southwest side of Chicago. Mrs. 
Hubbard, who had paid the rent of the hall 
for years, asked Mr. Nardi to look about for 
a good lot, and they would pray the Lord to 
send the money. The Lord answered prayer 
in Mrs. Hubbard's receiving unexpectedly 



48 Michele Nardi 

some money that was owed to her. The lot 
was bought, and a neat building erected with 
these funds which she felt had been sent her 
in answer to prayer. The material was 
bought from the 'World's Fair" buildings, 
which reduced the cost of this work. 

After it was finished, this new building was 
named after the founder, "The Nardi Mis- 
sion." Pastor Grilli returned from Italy after 
five months, and Mr. Nardi returned to San 
Francisco, and from there they went to Los 
Angeles. Here he found many Christians to 
welcome him. Renting a hall in the Italian 
colony, they began work here as in other 
places, and had much blessing in the distribu- 
tion of tracts and Gospels, etc. But Mr. Nar- 
di, finding the climate too enervating, felt they 
should come East and visit the churches which 
had been opened. They had spent five years 
in California, and left behind them many who 
had found their Saviour in those years. 



Chapter III 
RETURN TO ITALY 

THEIR first stop was St. Louis ; then Chi- 
cago, Spring Valley, Pittsburgh and vi- 
cinity, and the East. 

Mr. Nardi then felt a strong call to go and 
preach the Gospel in Italy among those whose 
faith was once known all over the world, but 
who were now sitting in darkness and the 
shadow of death. 

They stayed a little while in New York be- 
fore leaving, and were persuaded of the Lord 
to take with them a young Italian girl who 
was confined in a convent in upper New York. 
Her teachers did not like to give her into the 
hands of a Protestant minister; but since she 
was going to Italy, they thought she would 
be safe in the hands of the Pope. 

They sailed on the St. Paul and arrived in 
Italy in August. Their first stop was Pisa. 
After being in Pisa a few weeks Mr. Nardi 
had an attack of cholera. The Devil did not 
want him in Italy where " Satan's seat" is, but 



50 Michele Nardi 

through a real fight of faith, he was healed in 
answer to prayer. 

An Italian living in the mountains near by, 
who had worked for Mr. Nardi in America, 
came to see them, and finding Mr. Nardi so 
weak, advised him to go up into the moun- 
tains where he lived, where the water was 
pure and the air good. He found an apart- 
ment for them in the house where the priest 
and nuns stopped frequently. The first one 
to call on them was the village priest, who 
paid a friendly call. But after a few weeks, 
when they learned that the Italians gathered 
around them in the evening to hear the Gos- 
pel and the beautiful Italian hymns, they tried 
to have Mr. and Mrs. Nardi sent away from 
the house, and they called "the lewd fellows" 
of the village together to give Mr. Nardi a 
thrashing. But one of the worst men of the 
town, who did not care for the priest, came 
and gave Mr. Nardi a timely warning. They 
gave themselves to prayer, and the young men 
who came to the service in the evening came 
prepared to fight, but the Lord did not allow 
them to be touched, and the man in the house 
desired them to remain. 

After a few months of seed-sowing among 



The Italian Evangelist 51 

these simple-hearted peasantry, they went to 
the nearest city, Lucca, called the vestry of 
Rome because half the population of the city 
were priests. There was a Waldensian 
Church here, but no regular pastor. Mr. 
Nardi was asked to take hold of the work and 
see what he could do. The Lord met him, 
opened the hearts of the people, and gave real 
blessing in the work. About one year was 
spent in this city. % 

The following letter is from the Walden- 
sian minister of Pisa : 

Our beloved Brother Nardi and his wife 
were loved by everybody because of their 
goodness and charity towards the poor. Their 
house was open to everybody, and frequent- 
ly those in need were lovingly fed and cared 
for. It was our brother's daily food to pray 
and to preach the Gospel. His preaching was 
accompanied with power, and many were con- 
verted to Christ as a result. We were all 
struck with sorrow when the day came for the 
departure of our brother from this world, 
especially those who were converted through 
his preaching (among whom I shall mention 
some: The widow, Mrs. Galli, and her 
daughter, Mr. Gigh, the engineer, and his 



52 Michele Nardi 

wife, Mr. Dell' Oglio and wife, Mrs. Beirlac- 
qua and her family, Mr. Giglio and his wife, 
and many others). 

In the course of my work at the port of 
Genoa I met a number of ministers who came 
from America, and they all praised the work 
of Brother Nardi in that country. They spoke 
of his opening many new churches. Many 
emigrants were converted to the Gospel 
through the work of our brother. 

I was very glad when in the month of 
June, 1913, I received word that Mr. Nardi 
and his wife were about to come to Italy, and 
that he wanted me to meet them at the port of 
Genoa. 

When I met Brother Nardi, I kissed him 
and embraced him, giving praise to God. He 
went at once to Rapallo, where he opened a 
hall for evangelization, and in a short time he 
gathered a number of men who were glad to 
hear the Word of God. Besides preaching in 
Rapallo three times a week, he went to the 
Riviera, where he preached the Gospel in 
many towns. 

The brethren of Rome desired to see our 
Brother Nardi; and when the new Walden- 
sian Church was dedicated, Mr. Nardi was in- 



The Italian Evangelist 53 

vited to be present; at Rome he received a 
very cordial welcome. 

Mr. Nardi returned to his field; I re- 
mained in Rome. Four months later I re- 
ceived the following postal card : 

My dear Brother Goglio : 

Yesterday, on the 21st of July, our beloved 
Mr. Nardi left this world for the kingdom 
of the Lord. Around him there were many 
brethren and sisters who took care of him 
during his ten days' illness. He was praising 
the Lord every moment, even in the midst of 
his sufferings. He has left the earth to enjoy 
the glory of God. Mrs. Nardi is remembered 
in prayers by all her friends, and she is happy 
in the comfort of the Heavenly Father during 
this sorrowful ordeal. 

Greetings to all the brethren. 

* E. Tichi. 

This was a great loss for Mrs. Nardi which 
caused her great pain, and we pray our Heav- 
enly Father to protect her in everything 
(Psalm 23). 

Ambrogio Goglio. 
Tempio Valdese, Piazza Caivur, Roma. 



54 Michele Nardi 

Florence. 

They visited Florence also, which was not 
far away, and preached in the Waldensian 
Church there. 

The President of the Waldensian Society, 
Dr. Prochet, came to see them at Lucca, and 
would have liked to have had them stay there. 
He asked them to visit Barga before leaving, 
where there was a hall for preaching service. 
The Lord blessed them there, but the opposi- 
tion was awful, so much so that they tried to 
have them sent away, and put posters on the 
wall, "Death to the Protestant Preacher," also 
the same on partly burned tracts (that they 
had given out) that were left at their door. A 
finely educated man was converted during 
these services and has always remained faith- 
ful. Many others received great blessings and 
they shall know when they get on the other 
side just how much was accomplished. 

Many other places were visited and the 
Gospel faithfully preached, and everywhere 
they went, they found hearts hungry for the 
truth. 



The Italian Evangelist 55 

Rome 

NOW, like Paul, they felt that they must 
see Rome. Sjd they went thither. 
There was already a good deal of splendid 
work being done here by the Waldensian and 
other Societies, but Mr. Nardi was led of the 
Lord to open a hall for special Evangelistic 
work. And as the cafes were open night 
after night and filled and thronged with the 
people, why not have a Gospel hall open every 
night and let the Word of God have free 
course? He took the hall near the great Ca- 
thedral Santa Maria Maggiore, where the 
people passed continually. They were at once 
attracted by the singing and the Scripture 
texts that were painted in large letters on the 
walls, making it very attractive. "Sala Evan- 
gelica" (Gospel Hall) was painted in large 
letters over the door. Night after night the 
hall was filled, much to the surprise of the 
ministers who thought a prayer-meeting, and 
preaching on Sunday, were all that was 
needed. 

Every one hundred years is set apart by 
the Pope and called "Holy Year," when pil- 
grims come from all over the world to bring 



56 Michele Nardi 

presents, and this happened to be that year. 
When the pilgrims passed the hall on Via Ca- 
vour, and saw that it was a meeting- place, 
many stopped, thinking {* was a meeting in 
connection with the "Holy Year." Here many 
for the lirst time heard the Gospel, and others, 
after hearing the "Good News," asked for a 
book that told about these wonderful things. 
There were many to whom it was a "Holy 
Year" in the truest sense of the word, for 
they found their Saviour and took His Word 
back to their homes. 

Sometimes, as they entered, they would 
bow and "cross themselves" and come to kiss 
Mr. Nardi's hand (which he always drew 
away quickly). 

Many were converted here who are still 
faithful. 

Mr. Nardi presented the Gospel with such 
simplicity and power that the people were 
surprised and attracted and held, for he knew 
his Bible and spoke with authority. He 
preached faithfully the Second Coming of 
Christ, and exhorted them to watch and pray 
as His coming would be soon. He also 
preached the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and 
the whole counsel of God. As he often said, 



The Italian Evangelist 57 

"It is more than the A, B, Cs. We must press 
on to know Him." 

The Italians who attended these meetings 
were of the better class. Among them were 
some of the King's guards who came down 
from time to time, who, however, never sat 
down, but always stayed and remained stand- 
ing. 

Those who were converted during these 
meetings were taken in as members of the 
Protestant Churches, but mostly in the Wal- 
densian Church. 

The work was turned over to the Walden- 
sian Society, who kept the hall open as a Bible 
Depository and held services twice a week. 
The open Bible was always in the window so 
that the passersby could read it. Mr. Nardi 
spent about a year at this place when he felt 
they should move on to other points. 

It was during this time in Rome that the 
young girl they had taken from the convent 
in New York became thoroughly converted 
and consecrated herself to the Lord. We will 
let her tell her own story of her conversion. 



1 



N the year 1807 ^ r - an d Mrs, Nardi were 
stopping in New York on their way to Italy. 



58 Michele Nardi 

My mother, whom they had known, asked 
them to come to see me, for I was in a Roman 
Catholic Convent. They came, and in the 
course of conversation Mrs. Nardi asked me 
if I would like to go to Italy with them. I 
replied that I would be glad to go. Arrange- 
ments were made accordingly, and on the 
fourteenth of August of the same year I ar- 
rived in Italy. 

It was understood that I should follow such 
religious duties as was possible, although it 
was Mr. and Mrs. Nardi's aim and desire to 
show me the better way. 

To this end I was asked to read the Scrip- 
tures at family worship, and also I read a 
great deal to Mrs. Nardi from the best of 
religious papers. I was so strictly Roman 
Catholic, that I would make my mind wander 
during the reading of the Bible, and repeat my 
own prayers, while Mr. and Mrs. Nardi 
prayed. I know, for I felt it, that they both 
prayed much for me concerning our religious 
differences, and this touched me very greatly. 
But, on the other hand, I loved and believed 
firmly in my religion, and prayed much for 
their conversion. 

What appealed to me from the very begin- 



The Italian Evangelist 59 

ning, was that, apparently it was easy for them 
to be good, and that joy and peace was ever 
theirs, whereas with me it was always a strug- 
gle, and hard work to do the right thing. 

Soon I began to get interested in the read- 
ing of the Bible and also in the reading of cer- 
tain articles, especially anything treating on the 
Second Coming of Christ. All else was fa- 
miliar to me, in some form or other, but here 
was something that the Catholic Church did 
not know, or teach. The blessed hope of 
Christ's return was what awakened me to ex- 
amine and see if, after all, what I had been 
taught was really true. 

To this end, after Mr. Nardi showed me 
that there was no difference between the Ro- 
man Catholic and the Protestant Bibles, I be- 
gan to compare my Catholic books, where 
there were Bible references, with the Bible. I 
found that these teachings did not correspond 
to the references, and so little by little I felt 
shaken in my faith in the Catholic Church. I 
took great pleasure in reading the testimonies 
given, how people were saved, sanctified, and 
healed. The more I read, the more I desired 
just such a wonderful experience as was de- 
scribed. I was tired of trying and trying to be 



60 Michele Nardi 

good without succeeding, and I finally began 
to pray that God would save me also. 

Sometimes Mr. Nardi would let me ask the 
blessing at table, and also take part at family 
worship. But with all this I did not feel free 
in my conscience to ever go to the Protestant 
Church. 

After praying for some time, seeing that I 
did not have any wonderful experience, I gave 
up and became rather bitter within. 

Just about this time a minister gave me a 
history of the Reformation to read. I was 
very much interested in it, and it enlightened 
me much as to the errors of the Roman Cath- 
olic Church and their origin. 

On the first of October, 1899, I went to 
Rome with my faith badly shaken, and yet 
hoping to find there something better. It is 
generally called the holy city, and I surely ex- 
pected the Roman Catholic religion to be at 
its highest perfection, especially as the Pope 
dwells there. But one day I happened to go 
to the Vatican, and as it was some holy day, 
mass was being celebrated. I drew near and 
took notice of all my surroundings, and to my 
horror, at the most sacred moment of the 
service, while the people were on their knees 



The Italian Evangelist 61 

on the outside of the altar devoutly bowed in 
prayer, the priests, of whom there were sev- 
eral, were laughing, joking, among themselves. 
That was the last straw, and I understood that 
the Roman Catholic religion was false through 
and through. 

On the evening of October 16th I was read- 
ing to Mrs. Nardi an article on "Behold He 
Cometh," at the close of which there was a 
special appeal to the reader, saying: if the 
Lord came that night would the reader be 
ready? I asked Mrs. Nardi if I should be 
saved that night and the Lord came, would 
He take me also with Him? Mrs. Nardi an- 
swered : " Yes, even to the eleventh hour !" I 
told her I thought the Lord did not want me, 
for I had been praying in the past, and He 
did not answer; in that I did not have an ex- 
perience like the ones I read of. 

Mrs. Nardi then told me how she was saved, 
and concluded, that I was not to look for feel- 
ings but take it in faith. We knelt in prayer 
and, since I did not want to pray, Mrs. Nardi 
prayed for us both. I kissed her good night 
and went to my room. 

I was preparing for bed, when very dis- 
tinctly I heard these words: "If you were to 



62 Michele Nardi 

die, where would you go?" I looked around 
and, of course, I was alone. I concluded it 
was my imagination, so proceeded to go to 
bed. And again: "If you were to die this 
night, where would you go?" By this time I 
began to feel nervous, but still I would not 
give in. A third time the same words, and 
this time they brought me down on my knees. 
I do not know what I said, except that I cried 
to God to save me. I arose from my knees, 
and the enemy said : "Well, what do you think 
you have done? You are just as lost as be- 
fore." I immediately began to say to myself : 
"The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth me from 
all sin and unrighteousness." 

This continued for some time, until I re- 
membered reading that we must accept by 
faith, and testify to the finished work. So I 
went right into Mrs. Nardi's room to tell her, 
and I said: "Mrs. Nardi, I am saved." And 
she answered "Amen !" 

We both sang: "Praise God from Whom all 
blessings flow," etc. I said good night and 
went to bed. 

The next day I knew I was a new creature 
in Christ Jesus, for I then felt even as a little 
child, and joy, peace, and quietness filled my 



The Italian Evangelist 63 

being. The assurance of salvation that I had 
read about, but never before experienced was 
mine, and quietly all through the day I in- 
wardly praised God. 

To God is all the glory and praise, and 
gratitude and love to Mr. and Mrs. Nardi who 
were instrumental in leading me to the truth 
as it is in Christ. 

Mrs. Rosina M. Allegri. 

Among the first fruits in Rome of Mr. 
Nardi's preaching was Mrs. Galli, whose tes- 
timony is here given : 

At the close of the year 1898, we moved 
from Messina, Sicily, to Rome, because 
mother's health and mine also, was much 
shaken. For a month or more the ground had 
trembled continually by earthquakes. That un- 
fortunate city was devoted to end in the way it 
did ! We came to Rome hoping to feel better 
in mind and body, but did not gain. For 
though the fear of earthquakes was gone, our 
hearts were not at ease; something was miss- 
ing. Mother and I were alone, — no friends, 
no parents, (father had died) to encourage us. 
We passed our time remembering the happy 
days in the past when we lived in America 



64 Michele Nardi 

(I was born in San Francisco, Cal.) with my 
mother's parents and dear father. Mother 
remembered also her friends especially a 
faithful Christian lady. We had lived, so to 
say, without religion, although called Catho- 
lics. 

One evening we heard the bell ring. I ran 
to the door and before me stood a smiling gen- 
tleman arm in arm with a lady, who asked for 
us. That gentleman and the lady were Mr. 
Nardi and his wife, and we shall ever remem- 
ber them as angels coming from heaven to us. 
Mr. Nardi told us that he had come from 
America, where he knew some of our acquain- 
tances, and they had given him our address. 
Shortly after this, he quietly asked us if we 
frequented Rome's beautiful church and if 
w£ went to see the Pope. Freely we answered 
that a visit to see the artistic pictures and sta- 
tues in the Roman temples was enough for us 
and nothing more, for we had never cared for 
religion, at least what the priests taught, and 
,vould never go to them. Then Mr. Nardi 
pulled out a little book from his coat pocket 
(it was the Gospel) and told us it was the 
teaching of God, the only teaching worth obey- 
ing. He asked us to read it attentively. Then 



The Italian Evangelist 65 

he informed us that we could hear the ex- 
planation in a little hall just a few steps from 
our door where meetings were held every 
evening. His words, when speaking of the 
divine love of the Father, entered our hungry- 
souls as balm. We went to the meetings, and 
afterwards to the Temple (the Waldensian 
Church on Via Nazione) and three months 
later we were accepted as members. We still 
belong to that church until we shall be united 
to all the believers in our Father's house in 
heaven. From the beginning, from the very- 
first evening in that little hall, the words of 
eternal life were real food for our souls. Our 
lives were renewed, our health did not occupy 
us any more. For three years Mr. Nardi and 
his wife lived in Rome, and many happy, holy 
hours we spent together. After that many 
trials came to us, mother's sickness, and other 
troubles, earthquakes also, but, Glory to our 
Lord, that deep, settled feeling of peace and 
spiritual joy poured into our hearts from the 
loving brotherly heart of Mr. Nardi never left 
us. Lately we expected to live again united 
in this Rome, but our Father called him in the 
heavenly house where he is awaiting us. 
His will be done! 



66 Michele Nardi 

Naples and Capri 

MR. and Mrs. Nardi visited Naples, and 
for eight months preached the Gospel 
faithfully in a hall (opened by a Count P — ) 
every day at noon. Mr. Nardi also preached 
in the Waldensian Church in this place. 

They spent a few months also on the Island 
of Capri with Count P — who had a beautiful 
castle here and a nice chapel inside of it 
where meetings were held daily. 

While in Naples, they received a letter 
from some Christians in the mountains who, 
while in America, had found Christ. They 
invited Mr. Nardi to come and see them, but 
as Rev. Mr. Gai was going that way on some 
business in the interest of the Waldensians, 
Mr. Nardi asked him to visit them, which he 
did. He found a number of people there who 
wore the name Christian on their hats and 
also on their houses so that the priests would 
not bother them. They had evangelized the 
whole village, and now there is a nice church 
and school in that village under the Walden- 
sian Society. 

Other Towns Also 

A DEAR friend who was in Switzerland 
at this time, hearing that they were in 



The Italian Evangelist 67 

Italy, invited them to visit her. They took 
this opportunity to visit the Italian work of 
Berne, Basil, and Bienne, spending a few 
months very profitably among the Italians, 
preaching in the Evangelical Halls, and doing 
personal work. They also had much spiritual 
blessing in fellowship with a Christian friend 
from America. 

On their return to Italy they visited Turin 
and attended the Waldensian Synod then in 
session at Torre Pellice. Mr. Nardi was 
asked to preach at the old historical church 
Ciabas where in the time of persecution it was 
"fight or flight," and they decided to fight for 
the faith once delivered to the saints. The 
Lord was with him in much power on that 
afternoon, as all testified who heard him. 

Then followed a visit to Milan where spe- 
cial meetings were held in the American Bap- 
tist Church. The Italians here were very re- 
ceptive and it was touching to see their appre- 
ciation of the Gospel messages in the fulness 
of the Spirit. 

They also visited Mr. Nardi's birthplace 
near the Adriatic Sea, and spent about a week 
in the home of his cousin who was Arch 
Priest, having fifteen priests under him. 



68 Michele Nardi 

There, in his own home, with his parents and 
other members of his family, they had an op- 
portunity to witness daily for "The Truth/' 
There were about sixteen in all with the assis- 
tant Chaplain. Mr. Nardi asked him if he 
had a Bible. He brought it forth, and, open- 
ing it, Mr. Nardi explained it to them, all 
assenting that it was true. He gave them 
tracts to read, one by Moody "Filled with the 
Spirit" which had been translated into Italian. 
The mother of the priest was so touched by 
this tract that she read it to the women of 
the Church, as she was at the head of the 
Society among them. They called on the Fa- 
ther confessor of Mr. Nardi's mother, an old 
priest, who was so glad to see them that he 
had the best of wine brought for them; but 
as they had no use for it, he was quite disap- 
pointed. They returned the compliment by 
getting out the best of their "Wine," and he 
was much interested in what they told him, 
and especially of the coming of Christ. 

Only in eternity shall it be known what was 
accomplished during these weeks of service. 



The Italian Evangelist 69 

Rome Again 

RETURNING to Rome, for a time they 
held services in the hall of the Y. M. C. 
A. As the English Baptists had rented a hall 
at Via Borgo Nuovo, just at the foot of the 
Vatican and next door to the palace of the 
Prince Torlonia, where many of the Cardinals 
lived, and were waiting to open the hall, Mr. 
Nardi offered his services, and meetings were 
held every night. There was a large window 
where the Bible was always kept open with 
other Scripture texts which the monks and the 
nuns on their way to St. Peter's could not 
help but see. They could also hear the Word 
of God as it was read and the Gospel Hymns 
that were sung, for the doors of the hall were 
always open. 

They were told by others that some of the 
Pope's coachmen attended these meetings. 
The soldiers also stopped in, for which some 
were punished by their officers: and others, 
to avoid suspicion, dressed in citizens clothes 
and returned again and again to hear the Gos- 
pel. 

One young man, a soldier who was stationed 
as a guard in the prison, came and heard the 



jo Michele Nardi 

Gospel and one evening asked Mr. Nardi for 
a book exactly like the one he was preaching 
from. Mr. Nardi gave him his own Bible. 
This young man was baptized afterwards and 
joined the Baptist Church. 

This man was a constant reader of the 
Bible while on guard in the prison, and the 
prisoners, seeing him read the book, asked 
him what he was reading. He said, the Gos- 
pel. They asked him if he would not leave 
the Book with them when he went out, for 
they would like to read it. He knew that even 
if he gave them a scrap of paper, he would be 
punished for it if found out ; but he was willing 
to leave the Book and take the punishment. 
But he was protected by the One in whom he 
put his trust. Thus God in His own way 
opened the way for the Gospel to be heard by 
those in prison. The priests were the only 
ones allowed in the prisons as spiritual advis- 
ers, so that it was impossible for the mission- 
aries themselves to enter with the Bible. The 
above-named young man and others would 
read the Bible aloud while on their beat, so 
that not only were they profited themselves, 
but the prisoners were also blessed by the 
Words of Life from the Blessed Book. 



The Italian Evangelist 71 

While in Rome Mr. Nardi visited a Mission 
at Civita Vecchia (Old City) where the Bap- 
tists had had a Mission for many years. Mr, 
Nardi preached here for several weeks. The 
boys caused a great deal of trouble at first, but 
through prayer and tact they were won to be 
his staunch friends to the great surprise of all. 

He also held meetings twice in connection 
with Mr. Newberry, an Independent Mission- 
ary, who also had Missions in Monte Carlo and 
other places on the Riviera. 



Chapter IV 

BACK TO AMERICA 

WHILE in Rome, they had the pleasure 
of meeting many American friends 
who were travelling in Europe; among them 
was Rev. Mr. MacNair and his wife from 
Philadelphia, (a Presbyterian Minister) who 
was much interested in the work among the 
Italians of America. He thought Mr. Nardi 
should return to America and evangelize the 
Italians there; because when they were con- 
verted and returned to Italy, they were much 
used of the Lord. But before leaving Italy 
Mr. Nardi visited many other parts of that 
country in the mountains and smaller towns. 
But he did feel that it was the leading of the 
Lord for them to return to America. They 
had now spent five years in Italy. 

Crossing over to Paris where they stayed 
a week, they sailed from Havre on the St. 
Louis and arrived in New York Oct. 12th. 

They were met at the steamer, and Mr. 
Nardi was invited to preach the next day, so 



The Italian Evangelist 73 

their work began as soon as they arrived in 
America. They went about visiting the 
churches even as far as Chicago and intended 
to go as far as Oklahoma where they had 
heard there were many Italians. But he re- 
ceived a letter from the East asking if he 
would come to Hammonton, New Jersey, 
where there was a little church among the 
Italians with divisions among them, for they 
thought Mr. Nardi could bring them together 
again. 

After much prayer he was persuaded that 
it was a call of the Lord; instead of going to 
Oklahoma, they returned East. 

Up to this time in their sixteen years of 
experience, they had not worked in connec- 
tion with any committee. After arriving at 
Hammonton, N. J., they began work among 
the little flock, and by much prayer and wait- 
ing upon the Lord, harmony was soon estab- 
lished and new ones were added to the 
Lord. As these were nearly all farmers, they 
could not have so many meetings; but they 
visited them in their homes. 

Beautiful Vineland was a few miles dis- 
tant, so they went there and secured a hall 
and had very good meetings. Dr. Moore, a 



74 Michele Nardi 

retired Presbyterian Minister, became so in- 
terested that he afterward built a beautiful 
Italian Church and a parsonage next door. 

Philadelphia 

FOR a few years they labored in this vicin- 
ity. But while still living in Hammonton, 
Rev. Mr. MacNair, whom Mr. Nardi met in 
Rome, wrote asking him to come to Philadel- 
phia and open a tent work among the Italians 
there. This would be the first attempt 
of work of this kind, as he had always 
spoken in churches, halls, or in the open air. 
They then came to the city, and, standing on a 
box in a Chinese grave yard at Tenth and 
Kimball Sts., they started the meetings in the 
open air before the tent was erected. There 
were two missions among the Italians in the 
vicinity (a Methodist and a Presbyterian) 
but the pastors were both absent. The very 
few members of these Missions came out and 
helped to sing Italian Hymns, and this drew 
the crowds. This was the beginning of a great 
work among the Italians of Philadelphia. 

The Evangelistic Committee of the Presby- 
terian Church soon furnished a large tent 
holding more than a thousand people. At the 



The Italian Evangelist 75 

closing Rally of this Campaign, which was a 
phenomenal one, over a thousand converts of 
different nationalities were present. Dr. J. 
Ely and Jno. A. Converse asked the Italians if 
they wanted this work to go on or to stop. 
They all rose to their feet and enthusiastical- 
ly said "Let it go on." The lot was pur- 
chased, and a corrugated iron building was 
erected seating twelve hundred people. Meet- 
ings were held night after night, and a Sunday 
School with good workers reached out after 
the children. Good workers were employed 
who held sewing schools and Mother's meet- 
ings and every thing conducive to the further- 
ance of the Gospel. Noon-day meetings were 
held for the factory girls next door. 

New Jersey 

AFTER some months work, Mr. Nardi 
felt that he should return to his work 
in New Jersey. Rev. A. Pirazzini from 
Providence, R. I., was called to take charge 
of the work in Philadelphia. 

They located in Vineland. Mr. Nardi had 
kept up his meetings in Hammonton during 
the months that he worked in Philadelphia, 



?6 Michele Nardi 

preaching in the morning and returning to 
Philadelphia for the afternoon and evening. 
In Philadelphia they wanted him to give up 
his work in New Jersey, but he was so at- 
tached to it that he refused to do so. 

In Vineland they found many Italians from 
the northern part of Italy as well as many 
from the southern part. They owned their 
own homes, and some had fine farms and were 
very open to the Gospel. A congregation was 
soon gathered ; and when the new church was 
built and then dedicated on a Thanksgiving 
Day, several Italian pastors from New York, 
Philadelphia, and other places were present. 
One of these pastors was married that day in 
the afternoon, which was their first wedding. 
Those who were present will never forget that 
blessed day. 

Ere long a young couple from Italy, Rev. 
Mr. Stasio and wife, came to Vineland and 
helped in the work by preaching in Hammon- 
ton, helping Mr. Nardi in Atlantic City and 
other places where they evangelized. 

During the summer, Mr. Nardi again 
preached in the second Italian tent in Phila- 
delphia, in a different locality from the prev- 
ious summer. This was a novelty for them to 



The Italian Evangelist 77 

gather night after night to sing hymns and 
listen to the preaching of the Gospel. 

Among those who were converted during 
these campaigns were fourteen young men, 
who are now preaching the Gospel. 

After about five years of preaching in the 
corrugated iron building, a beautiful brick 
church was erected. 

In a recent letter from Dr. Ely to Mrs. 
Nardi, he writes : 

Mr. Nardi was not a man of publicity, being 
so retiring and gentle in his spirit. He effected 
the agencies which appear rather than being 
affected by them. He was truly a modern St. 
Paul. He stood alone with God, and walked 
with Him. 

Before the world he sincerely and truly rep- 
resented God, and before God he carried the 
burdens of the world. When he began the 
work at 10th and Kimbal streets, I remember 
well how most of our Committees and such 
wise men as Mr. Wanamaker expressed their 
conviction that it would be no use : the Italian 
people, they thought would all go back to their 
original faith. But when Nardi and the Lord 
showed them all that he was able to demon- 



78 Michele Nardi 

strate the powei of God in their midst, time 
has proven him right and the others wrong. 

I think where Mr. Nardi made his great im- 
pression upon me was when he prayed. In all 
his work was the spirit of reality; but when 
he prayed, every one was made to feel that the 
man was holding direct and immediate com- 
munion with God and was unconscious of the 
personalities of the people. Like his Master 
his meat and drink was to do the will of God. 
Surely he must at this moment be enjoying as 
few others have the capacity to enjoy the close 
fellowship of Christ. You have nothing to re- 
gret except the sense of his temporary absence. 

Last Monday it was a great joy for me to 
hear Frasco (I think this is his name) preach 
before the Philadelphia Presbytery. 

He is the boy to whom Mr. Nardi gave the 
Gospel portion; and when in innocency he 
showed it to the priest, it was taken from him. 
After some time mourning its loss, he made 
an endeavor to get another copy, and told his 
story to Mr. Nardi and received an entire copy 
of the Bible. This he held on to, and now 
it holds him. 

Few men have made their lives count as 
Mr. Nardi has, and upon every remembrance 



The Italian Evangelist 79 

of him my courage in the Gospel strengthens, 
and my hope of a joyful gathering around the 
throne of God is quickened into a happy anti- 
cipation. There are indeed many things I 
should like to tell about in regard to this man 
of God, for he made an impression on my life 
such as few others have done. As you know, 
I consulted him about almost every move and 
often took his opinion as a divine revelation. 
Now I hope and pray that whatever message 
you may send forward to the world may con- 
tribute to the cause of our Lord, in Whose 
work Mr. Nardi was so effective on earth, and 
Whose service he so enjoys this moment, we 
believe. 

James B. Ely. 

The boy to whom Mr. Ely refers is Michele 
Frasca, who tells his own story as follows: 

ON a Sunday morning in July of 1903, a 
young man gave me a religious notice. 
It said that in the evening at 7 130, there would 
be an Evangelistic campaign opened at 10th 
and Kimball street. The preaching would be 
illustrated by a magic lantern ; all Italians cor- 
dially invited. 



80 Michele Nardi 

Upon reading the notice, I immediately 
made up my mind to go to that devil's meet- 
ing and upset it, if possible, thus obtaining a 
double indulgence for my soul in the life to 
come. (It must be remembered that I was a 
very strong Roman Catholic, especially in view 
of the fact that I had recently arrived from 
Italy.) 

However, God had planned and disposed 
otherwise. His thoughts and ways were not 
like mine. It Providentially happened, or as 
I now believe, it was Providentially arranged 
that I should arrive at the meeting just while 
the people were singing : 

Cosi qual sono pien do pecento, 
Ma pel tuo sangue chi in ha lavato, 
E per Tinerto f elto al cor mio, 
O Agnello do Dio, To vengo a Te ! etc. 
That hymn took hold of me, and I, forget- 
ting the purpose for which I had come, sought 
for paper and pencil and hastily copied the 
hymn from the screen. Little do I remember 
about the night's sermon, except that it made 
a favorable impression upon me, especially the 
earnestness of the preacher, as well as the 
clearness and simplicity of his message. But 



The Italian Evangelist 81 

that hymn, "cosi quol sono ,, followed me 
home, in my sleep next day, in the barber shop, 
everywhere I went, the words, "Cosi quol sono 
pusi do peccato" followed me. 

As often as I could attend the meeting I 
went, especially on Sundays. In the mornings 
I went to the Catholic church, and in the 
afternoons and evenings to hear the Protes- 
tant preacher. 

In a short time I collected quite a number 
of religious tracts. These I devoured in the 
barber shop, and I always asked for more. I 
well remember my eagerness to get to the 
meetings. At times I used to hang at the back 
of a trolley (not having the fare) in order to 
get to the meeting sooner. Once I lost my 
only cap by so doing. 

On a Sunday afternoon, my uncle asked me 
to go to Father Isoleri, the Catholic priest of 
8th and Montrose st. church and ask him when 
he could baptize his child. I went; the ar- 
rangement was made, and as I was about to 
leave the priest noticed a neat black book in 
my hands, a little larger than the Catholic 
prayer book. He asked "What's that book?" 
"Father," said I, "It is a nice book, it speaks 
about the blessed Mother, our Lord Jesus, 



82 Michele Nardi 

and lots of other good things." "Let me see 
it I" Oh, what a face he made ! "My child," 
said he, "you are on the road to hell, yes, in 
hell itself. There is no hope for you, since you 
have been reading this damnable Protestant 
book." 

Fear and trembling took hold of me, for 
ever since I was a boy of four I had always 
a holy terror of hell and the horned and fiery 
inmates. To avoid hell and get a little corner 
in Purgatory I not only said plenty of Aves 
to all the saints visible in my native church, 
but also to those invisible to make my position 
sure. Now to be told that I was in hell, and 
damned, made me cry : "What must I do to get 
out of it?" 

"I shall give you a catechism," answered the 
priest, "and by memorizing the same you shall 
escape hell." 

"But, Father," I ventured, "I have been 
studying it ever since I was a boy." 

"My son," announced he, "I'll give you an 
advanced one." So saying, he gave me a cate- 
chism, but my New Testament he carefully 
placed in his pocket. That night I did not at- 
tend the preaching because I was too scared 
and afraid of hell. However, for a week my 



The Italian Evangelist 83 

mind kept saying "That was a good book. 
There was nothing bad in it; why did the 
priest take it away from me?" I could find 
no answer to this and other questions, so I 
resolved to go again to the Protestant meeting. 
I went, and when it was over, I told the affair 
to the preacher, and said, "Mr. Nardi, if you'll 
give me a Bible, I'll promise you that the priest 
will never see it, and I will read it every day." 
He gave me a Bible, and the more I read it, 
the clearer my vision became, and the firm 
my conviction grew that there was an immens 
gulf between the teachings of the Bible and 
that of the Popish church. And yet I was not 
sufficiently convinced of my new faith to break 
away from my superstitious practices, so for 
a year I kept on attending both churches, for 
a tabernacle had taken the place of the tent 
at 10th and Kimball streets. 

Out of these Evangelistic meetings there 
were two results. One, my family, upon find- 
ing out that I was attending the Protestant 
services, complained to me and outside pres- 
sure was brought to bear on my father. He 
was basely accused of sanctioning my going 
over to Protestantism because of the coal and 
house rent he received as a reward. But 



84 Michele Nardi 

knowing that every penny was earned by hard 
sweat, he told me one day that either I should 
abandon the Protestant church, or else leave 
his house. I chose the latter. However, three 
months later I was recalled home by my 
mother. 

The other result, indirectly due to Mr. 
Nardi's influence, was my desire to serve the 
Master and to make the gospel of salvation 
which is the power of God, known to thou- 
sands of young men like me, who lived with- 
out God. At the age of fifteen I entered the 
ministry with one purpose in mind : to follow 
the example set before me by Mr. Nardi and to 
tell my countrymen that through faith in the 
Lamb that was slain on Calvary alone there 
is salvation. 

My spiritual father, Mr. Nardi, has now 
gone to receive his crown, made up of thou- 
sands of jewels. I thank God that he came to 
Philadelphia and led me to Him who has 
saved me and given me a purpose in this life. 
My prayer is that I, like him, may be so used 
to God as to carry on the work which the Mas- 
ter Himself began. Michele Frasca. 



The Italian Evangelist 85 

Tent Work in New York 

DR. ELY, who went to New York City 
on an Evangelistic Campaign, invited 
Mr. Nardi to open tent work among the 
Italians in New York, where there were about 
half a million. 

Mr. Nardi then left the work of Vineland 
and Hammonton in charge of Mr. Stasio. But 
before going to New York, he went to Wash- 
ington, D. C, to preach the Gospel to the Ital- 
ians, who had been gathered together by Miss 
Mauro, who spoke the language fluently. By 
the first of January of that year Mr. Nardi be- 
gan his work in New York. He spent a few 
months preaching to different Italian Congre- 
gations in New York City and thus became 
acquainted with the need among his own 
country men in that great city. 

In the early spring he began his open air 
work, and later, at 150th St. in the Bronx, a 
large tent was erected, and the converted Ital- 
ians from a Methodist Mission near by came 
and helped in the singing. The first night, the 
lights had not yet been installed, and the meet- 
ing was held in the dark. A young Italian, 
who came with others out of curiosity, was 



86 Michele Nardi 

so impressed by this service that he became 
converted and is now a preacher of the Gospel 
in the Baptist denomination. 

The first tent was erected at Harlem on 
112th St. Mr. Nardi made his home in "Little 
Italy" for the convenience of the work among 
the Italians, and then he began to look about to 
see where he could open a hall. An old cafe, 
on 106th St. near First Ave., was rented. Be- 
low is the report by the New York Presby- 
tery concerning the work : 

Toward spring the hall was so overcrowd- 
ed that we looked about for an empty lot to 
put up an Italian tent. Dr. Ely and Mr. Nardi 
found one in the next block toward the river, 
said by the police to be the worst block in the 
city. The lot belonged to a Presbyterian, and 
he gladly gave it without charge for this good 
work. This was indeed a needy field. Within 
a few months five murders had been commit- 
ted on that very lot, and those who committed 
the acts escaped and were never found. We 
felt that this was just the place for the work, 
so the meetings for adults and children were 
begun. Some of the enemies to the truth went 
on the roofs of the tenement houses and 



The Italian Evangelist 87 

threw stones and other things down on the 
tent, so that it was necessary for policemen to 
patrol the roofs of the houses. After a few 
days, a black hand letter was addressed to 
Mr. Nardi asking a thousand dollars and 
threatening his life if the money was not forth- 
coming. But we gave ourselves to prayer, in 
union with the workers of the committee and 
the Lord protected us so "No evil came nigh 
our dwelling." 

About a month later another blackhand let- 
ter was received at their own home, but Mr. 
and Mrs. Nardi went on without noticing it, 
and the Lord kept them and gave them the 
favor of the people who came night after night 
and asked them to stay there. But they in- 
vited them to the next block to the hall when 
the tent was taken down in the fall. 

Mr. F. Pirazzini was engaged by the Pres- 
byterians to continue the work and after some 
years of service there is now a most beautiful 
church building there. 

Charlton Street 

MR. NARDI was asked by Dr. Schauffler 
to take charge of the work on the West 
Side in lower New York on Charlton St. Mr. 



88 Michele Nardi 

Nardi undertook the work and with the bles- 
sing of God he continued there nearly six 
years. This Mission was a little distance from 
the Italian colony, but the Lord answered 
prayer, and soon the place became too small 
for the numbers who came. As the Mission 
was thoroughly equipped with good workers, 
there was nothing left undone to push for- 
ward the work. 

After three years, with the help of Mrs. 
John S. Kennedy, a beautiful new building 
was erected called "Charlton Memorial 
Church/' in memory of her sister. It is one of 
the finest buildings of its kind in the city, with 
thorough equipment of every description. 
While pastor of this church, Rev. Mr. Antonio 
Arrighi, who had been pastor of the Broome 
St. Tabernacle for thirty years under the City 
Mission, retired, and Mr. Nardi was asked to 
undertake the pastoral work of this church 
also. Services were held on Sunday at five in 
the evening and a prayer meeting on Thurs- 
day evening in the Broome Street Tabernacle, 
and at eight o'clock on Sunday evening in the 
Charlton St. Church with a prayer meeting on 
Wednesday. This arrangement of services 
enabled him to take the extra work, although 




y 



H 



The Italian Evangelist 89 

it was an added strain. Something was going 
on all the time in these two large churches in 
the way of Sunday Schools, sewing schools, 
young people's societies, Mother's meetings, 
etc., etc., which kept about a dozen mission- 
aries busy all the time. 

We give here a copy of the printed report 
of the Charlton Street Memorial Church. 

For the first three months of this year, our 
Italian congregation worshiped in Alexander 
Chapel during the erection of our present 
beautiful edifice. Those three months were 
the last of the twelve months that we spent 
with the Rev. H. Pritchard, pastor of the 
Chapel. When we parted, a sweet memory 
remained of how Americans and Italians may 
worship together a whole year in true loving 
fellowship. 

Since the opening of the new building in the 
month of April, a number of Italian pastors 
and missionaries have visited our church and 
all have given expressions of gratitude to God 
and to the good lady who has so generously 
given so great a gift to our Master's work and 
to the Italians of America. 

During the nine months of the year just 
closed we proved how needful it was to have 



90 Michele Nardi 

larger accommodations for each of the depart- 
ments of the work, and especially for Sunday 
evening meetings for adults. 

The year began and closed without especial 
perils, poverty or sickness. Here and there a 
little help was given. We record one death. 
We have had several baptisms and a wedding. 
At every communion we have had some addi- 
tions to the church and at all the services we 
have had some encouragements. For instance 
a few Sundays ago, a finely educated gentle- 
man passing by the church, read the sign. He 
entered the building and attended our evening 
service. On taking him by the hand after the 
meeting, he said, "Curiosity brought me inside, 
but the Spirit of God has touched my heart 
very deeply, and instead of an unbeliever, I 
am going out a true believer. I shall make 
this place my spiritual home." He has kept 
his promise, attending all the meetings and 
reading God's Word given to him. Not long 
since I asked a young lady what led her to 
become one of us. She said, "Our big brother 
had already begun to attend the Italian Evan- 
gelical Church, and we soon found in him a 
great change for the better. The pastor urged 
him to invite members of his family to come 



The Italian Evangelist 91 

to church. One day he asked me to attend 
that evening one of their monthly social gath- 
erings, and I went just to please him. Several 
things were done, and said, but none of these 
interested me ; the reading of God's Word and 
the prayer at the opening and at the closing 
of the meeting went with me, and I purposed 
then and there to attend the Sunday evening 
services. I spoke of them to my mother and 
to ■ my younger sister, and on the following 
Sunday evening all four attended the meeting 
and we have continued to go with great delight 
during these four years." We have to thank 
our God for several such testimonies during 
the year. 

During the past year two new Italian mis- 
sions have been established, and have been 
blessed with almost phenomenal results. The 
one in East 106th street, in the colony known 
as 'Little Italy," was opened November 7th 
with the noted evangelist, Mr. Nardi, in 
charge. He labored without compensation. 
From the first the room, which accommodates 
only 114, has been crowded to overflowing at 
all the services on Sabbaths and weekdays. 
The doors have been locked to prevent over- 



92 Michele Nardi 

crowding, and sometimes policemen have to 
be called to prevent eager people from forcing 
an entrance. In June Mr. Nardi was succeed- 
ed by Mr. Pirazzini, so that he could give his 
time to the Summer Tent Work. These two 
brethren preached every night from June 1st 
to September 15 to crowds in the Italian tent 
and at the same time kept alive and flourishing 
our mission. The interest does not abate. 
Forty adults have been admitted to communion 
after giving full proof of the genuineness of 
their conversion. A hundred more, coming 
out from Rome, and seeking the benefits of 
evangelical preaching, would gladly enter our 
church as communicants, but, mindful of the 
unfortunate reputation of "Little Italy," our 
missionaries exercise extreme caution, requir- 
ing the test of time, as well as the test of 
courage under the frowns and anathemas of 
the priests of Rome. No organization has been 
attempted or asked for, but, at the request of 
those admitted to the communion, their names 
have been placed upon the roll of the New 
York Church. Thus they come under the care 
and discipline of the Session of that church 
until they shall become a separate organiza- 
tion. 



The Italian Evangelist 93 

Last January a delegation of Italians from 
the Bronx brought a petition, signed by forty- 
three Italians, asking to be organized as a 
Presbyterian church. They had listened to the 
preaching of Mr. Nardi and Mr. D'Anchise. 
Many of them had been members elsewhere. 
They were Italians of the better class. That 
petition is in the hands of a Special Committee 
of this Presbytery. Meanwhile your Com- 
mittee established a mission for them in Mor- 
ris Avenue, with young Mr. D'Anchise in 
charge. An old saloon was converted into a 
chapel. The people rallied, bought furniture, 
gas fixtures, a stove, hymnbooks and Bibles, 
and have met the current expenses, except the 
rentals. There has been no better or more 
successful work under the care of your Com- 
mittee than this. The room has never at any 
time been adequate to the needs of the con- 
gregation or the Sabbath-school. One twice 
as large would be filled at once. Forty per- 
sons have been received into the communion 
of our Church and enrolled w T ith the New 
York Church pending the organization. 

Your Committee cannot too strongly urge 
the necessity of permanent and enlarged ac- 
commodations for these two Italian congrega- 



94 Michele Nardi 

tions and the church of the Bohemian Breth- 
ren. They are under the pastoral care of 
young men of exceptional piety and ability. 
Surely no better use could be made of a mod- 
erate amount of money than in providing 
suitable houses of worship for these congrega- 
tions. 

The following report also is full of interest, 
written by Mr. Nardi himself, on the work of 
The West Side Italian Church. 

AS we look back over the twelve months 
of 191 1 and realize how the hand of the 
Almighty guided us all along, we can say 
heartily, "Praise the Lord!" Indeed it was a 
year of great blessing in many ways. Our 
people, the members and the friends who at- 
tend our services, had no real poverty, for all 
had more or less work. Neither was it a year 
of much sickness; rather a year of much in- 
crease, for a number of healthy babies came to 
make glad the homes and the church. Besides, 
our fellowship with the pastor and the mem- 
bers of the Alexander Chapel at 7 and 9 King 
Street, where we worship for the time being, 
has been one of the most peaceful and cor- 



The Italian Evangelist 95 

dial association, two congregations, English 
and Italian, worshipping together. In the 
changing of place, we have lost none of our 
members nor of our friends, but we have had 
rather an increase from service to service. 

Our young people have been very generous 
in giving toward foreign missions as well as 
for those at home. About two months ago Dr. 
and Mrs. Glover of China, addressed our 
Christian Endeavor Society. They told of 
their seventeen years' experience in China — 
of their school and orphanage and finally they 
closed their discourse with the story of a little 
baby, just born, wrapped in paper and left to 
die in a neglected place of the city. Mrs. 
Glover opened the package, and as she had 
supposed, she found it contained a little baby 
at the point of death ; her husband being pres- 
ent and being a physician, saved her life. She 
is now one of the brightest in the institution. 
Our young people asked the privilege of being 
responsible for the maintenance of the girl for 
at least this year, and they gave Dr. Glover 
then and there twenty dollars, and we all en- 
joyed it so much. 

In closing this report, we must not forget 
that among our members we have at present a 



96 Michele Nardi 

very promising young man studying at Dr. 
White's Bible Teachers' Training School, pre- 
paring himself to preach the Gospel. Another 
one of a very fine family, finished his course 
at Dr. White's school last year. He is now the 
associate editor of the Italian Evangelical pa- 
per "l'Araldo" published by the Presbyterian 
Board of Education. 

It has been a year of great spiritual blessing, 
for the Gospel has been preached in all its full- 
ness and power, and we see its effects as we 
visit in the homes. To God be all the glory. 



Chapter V 

CLOSING MINISTRY IN ITALY 

AFTER almost six years of work under 
the "New York City Mission," Mr. 
Nardi again felt a longing desire to go to 
Italy to preach the Gospel and to go even as 
far as Tripoli, to preach the Gospel to the 
Italians who were rushing into the new terri- 
tory. Although it was very hard for them 
to separate from the loving associations and 
the dear people whom they loved so much, Mr. 
Nardi resigned his charge, and Rev. Joseph 
Brunn came to take his place. 

The following accounts tell of the farewell 
service : 

Mr. Nardi's Farewell 

ON the evening of April 30th the audi- 
torium of Charlton Street Memorial 
Church was filled with members of the church 
and friends of the Rev. Michele Nardi, who 
was holding his farewell service as pastor of 
the Italian work of the church. Mr. Nardi 
and Dr. Pirazzini spoke in Italian. There was 



98 Michele Nardi 

also singing in Italian by three of the young 
men of the church and in English by one of the 
young women. Miss White, representing the 
City Mission, spoke of Mr. Nardi's work, and 
the Rev. Seth C. Craig, on behalf of the peo- 
ple of Charlton Street, presented to Mr. Nardi 
a gold watch suitably inscribed. To Mrs. 
Nardi a travelling bag was given. The re- 
cipients of these gifts thanked the people in 
appropriate terms. It is difficult to express 
the love which these two workers have for 
the people of Charlton Street, which is recip- 
rocated by those for whom they have labored 
so faithfully for over five years. 

On March 5th, at a meeting of the Commit- 
tee on Italian Work of City Mission Directors, 
Mr. Nardi presented his resignation as pastor 
of Italian work at Broome Street Tabernacle 
and Charlton Street Memorial Church, stating 
as his reason for doing so the fact that he in- 
tended going to Italy for the purpose of en- 
gaging in evangelistic work there. After ex- 
pressions of sincere regret at Mr. Nardi's in- 
tention of severing his connection with our 
Society, the following resolution was adopted : 

"Resolved: That with great regret we ask 
the Board of Directors to accept the resigna- 



The Italian Evangelist 99 

tion of the Rev. Michele Nardi as Italian pas- 
tor of Broome Street Tabernacle and Charl- 
ton Street Memorial Church, to take effect 
May 1, 1913, and that we express our high 
appreciation of the faithfulness, fidelity and 
fruitage of his five years of service in connec- 
tion with City Mission." 

At a meeting of the Board of Directors, 
held on March 12th, Mr. Nardi's resignation 
was accepted and the President was directed 
to convey to him the regret of the Board and 
their appreciation of the splendid service which 
he rendered in connection with our two 
churches for Italians. 

Mr. and Mrs. Nardi leave our work with 
the best wishes of their fellow-workers and 
of those for whom they labored. We wish 
them God speed and pray that the Heavenly 
Father will lead and help them in the future as 
He has in the past. 

They then spent a few months in German- 
town, Philadelphia, before leaving for Italy. 
Here Mr. Nardi looked for the last time 
upon the work he had started some years be- 
fore, and witnessed faithfully to the power of 
the Gospel in the churches of Philadelphia. 
It was also a great joy to him to preach in 



ioo Michele Nardi 

the "Whosoever Gospel Mission" (the rescue 
Mission of Germantown), and he prayed for 
that work until his last day. While in Phila- 
delphia, he received a telegram telling of his 
brother's illness, but he did not arrive at Pitts- 
burgh at his brother's home until after he had 
passed away. He then preached his brother's 
funeral sermon and had the privilege of wit- 
nessing both in Italian and in English while in 
Pittsburgh. 

Mrs. Nardi had been visiting relatives in 
Pittsburgh and vicinity, so they both returned 
to Germantown, where at the home of Mrs. 
S. G. Beck they celebrated their twenty-fifth 
wedding anniversary (a silver wedding). 
Mrs. Beck had invited many of their friends 
both in this country and abroad to share in 
this celebration. The letters accompanying 
the gifts were appreciated even more than the 
gifts. They kept them and had the pleasure 
of reading them while crossing the ocean. 
Mr. Nardi often spoke of the letters with 
much feeling. 

On the 5th of July they went to New York, 
and on the following Sunday Mr. Nardi 
preached his last sermon to the dear people in 
the Charlton and Broome St. Churches and 



The Italian Evangelist 101 

they "sorrowed" most because of the words he 
said to them "I shall see your faces no more 
on this side." On July ioth, 1913, they left 
New York Harbor on the Cunard Line and 
sailed directly to Genoa, Italy. 

The parting was a real blessing to all, 
though sorrowful. There were many Italian 
miinsters and missionaries and friends who 
had gathered on board for a farewell service. 
They sang some of the beautiful Italian 
hymns and read the Scripture and had prayer. 

A number of Catholic Bishops and priests 
were also sailing, and seeing the blessed fel- 
lowship we had, one of them asked one of the 
Italians who this is, and he said "Father 
Nardi." But he found out later he was not 
one of their kind of "Fathers." 

They had the opportunity on board to wit- 
ness to Christ and give out tracts. But they 
were not allowed to have a meeting. But there 
were some Christian people on board, with 
whom they had fellowship, and the journey 
was very restful. 

On July 24 they arrived in Genoa and were 
met by the beloved Italian brother who had 
labored with them in Rome some years before. 
It was a happy meeting to see each other again 



102 Michele Nardi 

face to face, and to be associated once more 
in the work of the Lord. 

Their first destination was Rapallo on the 
Riviera where they found a little company of 
believers, who had been brought into the light 
through a dear friend, Miss Mauro, from 
Washington, D. C, who had resided here with 
her family a few years and had been much 
used of the Lord among these people. Mr. 
and Mrs. Nardi soon felt at home among them 
as they found they were one in the Lord. As 
Miss Mauro was residing in England at this 
time, the little flock was glad to have Mr 
Nardi preach to them which he did in the 
power of the Spirit. 

Rapallo is a beautiful resort, one of the 
most beautiful places in Italy, where Germans, 
and English, and Americans spend the winter. 
Those who were Christians came to the meet- 
ing on Sunday afternoon. 

Mr. Nardi did not confine himself to Rap- 
allo, but he preached the Gospel along the 
Riviera and especially at Sarzano where there 
was an Italian family who had labored with 
Mr. Nardi in America. This brother opened 
his home for Gospel meetings, and his house 
being on the public road, he put in Mosaic on 



The Italian Evangelist 103 

the door step the verse Jno. 3:16 where all 
the passers-by had to read it. This town is 
not far from Spezzia, so Mr. Nardi went 
to and fro on the train and also visited the 
brethren at Rome, and found many of the 
first converts happy to see him again. It was 
during his visit to Rome that the Temple in 
memory of John S. Kennedy, the gift of his 
wife to the Waldensian Society, was dedicat- 
ed. The brethren of Rome made him promise 
at that time that he would again return and 
preach the Gospel to them. He had planned 
to return there early in the fall, but God had 
planned otherwise. 

He returned to Rapallo in February, and 
in April a Christian Doctor, a German, was 
visiting Rapallo, and he told Mr. Nardi one 
day that he would like to examine him. "You 
are a sick man, Mr. Nardi/' he said. Mr. 
Nardi laughingly said "Nardi is all right." 
He did not realize that he was failing, but 
went on preaching the same as ever. The 
Doctor had told some of the English friends 
that Mr. Nardi had hardening of the arteries, 
but Mr. Nardi knew nothing of it. 

Toward the end of June he began to fail, 
but he did not give up and go to bed until 



104 Michele Nardi 

six days before he passed away. Peritonitis 
had set in, but the Doctor gave out that the 
hardening of his arteries was the cause of his 
death. 

During the last moments of his life on 
earth he was growing more and more heavenly 
and more matured in his spiritual life. 

Once he said that though the pain was 
great, it lifted him higher and higher into the 
heaven. The nurse heard him pray that al- 
though the pain was great, if the Lord wished 
to have it be seven times hotter and even much 
worse, he was willing to bear it. His power in 
prayer was marvelous. 

The Lord was evidently telling him that he 
would take him home as many remarks that he 
made during these months now show. 

He preached his last sermon about ten days 
before his departure, and took for his text 
"Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground 
and die; it abideth alone." 

All who heard him said it was an inspired 
message, especially when he put up his arms 
and said "I am ready to go," and it seemed as 
if he would be translated then and there." 

On the last day of his life on earth he 
asked the nurse in the morning "Is it six 



The Italian Evangelist 105 

o'clock ?" and she said "It is eleven. " And he 
said "Oh ! it is so long until six. I am going 
home, I am already in heaven/' And with 
that a beautiful smile broke over his face. 
Then he asked for his wife who was out of 
the room at the time. She came and gave him 
verses of Scripture one after the other. "Be- 
hold now we see through a glass darkly," etc., 
and others. When she quoted the verse 'When 
all my labors and trials are o'er" etc., he said 
"Amen." When she said "My darling Mich- 
ele, I will be so lonely without you," he pressed 
her hand to the very last until he had de- 
parted. 

A number of the brethren were about him, 
and he had all the care that they could give 
him. Much prayer had been offered for his 
restoration, but the fruit was ripe for the 
garner, so it dropped into the Kingdom. He 
had often said that he wanted to go on before 
and come back with Jesus on one of those 
white horses spoken of in Revelation. The 
Lord took him at his word. 



Chapter VI 

FUNERAL AND MEMORIAL 
SERVICES 

THE funeral services were conducted on 
July 23rd in the morning-. He had passed 
away on July J 1st a little before 5 p. m. Dif- 
ferent Italian ministers of Italy were present. 
the one from Chiavari, a Baptist, from Genoa 
a Methodist, also the Pastor of the "Breth- 
ren" from Genoa, and Rev. Mr. D'Anchise 
from America. 

Of this service Rev. G. D. Anchise writes : 
Everything was conducted in a very simple 
manner and the Word was preached in the 
hall and in the cemetery. Before leaving the 
hall Mrs. Nardi sang a beautiful hymn in Ital- 
ian, which greatly affected the whole audience. 
Mr. Nardi was laid in a lovely spot surround- 
ed by olive trees, and a beautiful palm over- 
shadows the grave. His wife adds, "As he 
was lowered into the grave 'Peace like a river 
filled my soul, and the Lord spoke to me, say- 
ing, "Yet a little while and he that shall come 
will come and will not tarry." ' 



The Italian Evangelist 107 

"I felt that I was not alone, for the Lord 
had given me beside Himself many good 
friends among both the English and the Ital- 
ians of Rapallo. After a few days Mr. Phillip 
Mauro and his daughter arrived, and we be- 
gan to make arrangements for my return to 
America. Then the War broke out, and we 
were delayed. I wanted to see the tomb stone 
set in place before leaving. As the grave was 
in the part alloted to the Protestants, just 
oposite the large entrance, we put verses on 
both sides of the pure white marble head stone 
so that all who passed by would have to see 
them ; even those passing by on the street. 

"The Catholics passing to their part of the 
Cemetery must also see them. Rev. 1 : 5, 'Unto 
Him that loved us, and washed us from our 
sins in His own blood/ is the verse on one 
side, and on the other, 1 Jno. 5: II, 12, 'And 
this is the record that God has given to us 
eternal life; and this life is in His Son. He 
that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath 
not the Son of God hath not life.' This is on 
the side toward the public street. 

"The day before leaving Italy for America 
I planted violets on the grave." 

And thus this precious life was laid down 



io8 Michele Nardi 

for the Lord and the brethren. He did not 
feel that he was old, but still looked forward 
to going to Tripoli, but the Lord had need of 

him. 

The people of Rapollo saw with surprise 
the goodly throng of Protestants that ac- 
companied our Brother Nardi to his last earth- 
ly resting place. They never thought that 
in those few months of residence among 
them the dear, faithful servant of the Lord — 
despising hardship and persecution — had 
brought, under the Divine guidance and in- 
spiration, so many of their countrymen to 
Jesus. 

In the beautiful little cemetery for the Pro- 
testants, on the slope of the hills surrounding 
the Gulf, many strangers were attracted by 
the singing of hymns, and with tears in their 
eyes they watched as the simple service pro- 
ceeded, and the beautiful words of faith an- 
nouncing the resurrection resounded among 
the graves. 

Those who were present promised to attend 
the services of the little Church in Rapallo, and 
I am sure that many others will follow the 
same example. 




-michele unr 

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urn &im%m% icl uss 

Si liBiiifIT8*li ; CilST8 
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gESI!8ifTfl™ a »I 481?! 

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MTCHELE NATIDI'S GRAVE 



The Italian Evangelist 109 

Michele Nardi is living yet in that lovely lit- 
tle city of the Eastern Riviera — living in the 
heart of those that heard him announcing 
with his touching voice and unsurpassed tone 
of sincerity the blessed news of our salvation, 
living as well, in the example of his life so full 
of sacrifice and dedication to the cause of the 
Master and the consolation of his fellowmen. 

This will be true not only of Rapallo; but 
also of S. Michele, S. Margherita, Ruta, Lar- 
zana, wherever he spent the last energies of 
his life preaching the Word of God. 

Those that listened to his last sermon said 
that he showed a marked preparedness to meet 
his God. As in tender tones he described the 
reality and happiness of being with the Lord, 
all the congregation had the impression of 
"hearing him speak from other worlds." 

So will our last remembrance be if we 
follow the example of our Master. 

I am sure that for many years among those 
fishermen that dropped the nets to take their 
caps off while the funeral of our dear brother 
was passing along the shore, there will be re- 
peated an innocent story, that "once in Ra- 
pallo a good preacher saw the Heaven opened 



no Michele Nardi 

and the Lord awaiting him while he was 
preaching a few days before his death." 



The Rev. Joseph Brunn also writes: 

On August 5th I received a postal card 
from the Rev. J. D'Anchise, dated Ra- 
pallo, Italy, July 23d, in which I read, "The 
news that I am giving you is sad anifl unex- 
pected. Dear Mr. Nardi has finished his 
course, and has gone to his Lord. This morn- 
ing we held his funeral. We laid him on a 
little hill in the cemetery of Rapallo, where 
he will rest under the sun of his beloved coun- 
try. Poor Mrs. Nardi is a living example of 
faith and courage. Tell it to all his friends. 
He died of peritonitis, worn by these last 
years of hard work. A few days before he 
died he wrote a letter full of new plans for 
new work in other places. It is a noble life 
that has passed ; may God raise up others like 
him." 

We thought Mr. Nardi well and, as usual, 
active in his work. I cannot express in words 



The Italian Evangelist in 

the feeling produced on me by the sad mess- 
age. The cry came spontaneously from my 
heart : My God, what shall we do without Mr. 
Nardi? 

Mr. Nardi was rightly called the Moody of 
the Italians. His zeal, piety, sincerity and 
faith are known to all. He founded many 
missions and churches in Chicago, Pittsburgh, 
Vineland, Philadelphia, and other places in 
Italy and America. He was a real witness 
at all times and to all people, in season and 
out of season, but the congregation of the 
Charlton Street Memorial Church is one of 
the best monuments of his faithful labors for 
his Master. It was most fitting that a memo- 
rial service should be held for him at Charl- 
ton Street, as it was held on Sunday evening, 
September 13th. The edifice was crowded to 
the doors before the service started. Ten 
Italian ministers were present, and many more 
would have been there had the service been 
held at a more convenient hour. 

The Rev. A. H. McKinney, the first speaker, 
said in part: "Mr. Nardi was not a perfect 
man; there was only one perfect man, Jesus 
Christ. Mr. Nardi was a man of tremendous 
conviction. There were no ifs or buts in his 



H2 Michele Nardi 

knowledge of the Heavenly Father; his God 
and his Christ were real and living. He car- 
ried the force of his conviction to the hearts 
and souls of his people. He was also a man of 
great zeal; one could not know Mr. Nardi 
without realizing that he was full of the grace 
and power that comes from the Spirit of God. 
He was also a man of unbounded patience ; he 
was patient with the young and with the old. 
It was because of this God-like quality that 
people loved him." Dr. McKinney closed his 
remarks by exhorting all to continue the work 
laid down by this faithful servant of God. 

The next speaker was Professor A. Piraz- 
zini, of the Bible Teachers Training School. 
He said: "Twenty years ago Mr. Nardi came 
to Rome and opened a hall in one of the 
aristocratic streets of the Eternal City. It 
was a revelation to see officers of the army, 
government officials and college professors 
coming to hear this simple preacher of the 
Gospel. Many of his converts are to this day 
a power in the churches of Rome. Had Mr. 
Nardi continued in worldly affairs he would 
have died a millionaire, but he preferred the 
unsearchable riches of Christ. Had he been a 
Roman Catholic, he would be worshipped as 




MICHELE XARDI'S GRAVE 



The Italian Evangelist 113 

a saint. He always selected hard places and 
when he had the work well started he would 
go to another/ 

The Rev. A. DePietro, representing the 
Italian Ministerial Association, also spoke 
briefly. 

During the memorial service a picture of 
Mr. Nardi made by Mr. Eugene Manzo was 
unveiled. Great appreciation was shown by 
the people in their silent gaze upon the kindly 
features of their former pastor and true 
friend. 

Dr. Schauffler, who could not be present be- 
cause of other engagements, sent a letter which 
was read. He wrote in part : "I have ever had 
Mr. Nardi in fond remembrance. I learned to 
know him as one of the most Christian men 
I ever met. His one thought was for the 
glory of his Master and the spiritual welfare 
of his fellow-men, especially those from Italy. 
His memory is fragrant and blessed." 



An Appreciation 

I SHALL ever be grateful to God for having 
known my beloved friend, Michele Nardi. 
It may well be said of him that through the 
faith which was his and which moulded and 
affected his entire life — though being dead he 
yet speaketh. No life that is lived in God can 
die. It continues its blessed existence not only 
in that glorious land beyond, but it continues 
to be a living factor in the world, among those 
who had the privilege of seeing the glory of 
that life. 

As I think of my friend who has only passed 
beyond the vail, I cannot help but think more 
clearly of my blessed Lord and Master whom 
he served and loved. There was that abandon 
in him to the Lord's work that closely linked 
him to the Divine Son of God. He was a 
man who never thought of self — nor did he 
deem any task too arduous if he might accom- 
plish the work which God had committed to 
him. He was clearly a servant of the Most 
High. He considered his life as belonging 
to God and as a thing to be used for his glory. 
He never looked upon himself as the hired 
man of any committee or organization ; he had 
his commission for service from God, and the 
financial assistance which was given him he 



The Italian Evangelist 115 

accepted as a gift from God that he might do 
His will. He was no time server — he ex- 
pected his Lord to come — but it mattered not 
to him when He should come. His life was 
constantly lived as in the presence of God. 

I shall never forget my first meeting with 
him in the city of Naples over seventeen years 
ago. He loved to be in the house of God. 
Even as God's Son at 12 years of age was in 
the temple doing his Father's will, so our 
friend was attracted always to the places 
where God's people gather. 

For the moment it seemed but a mere chance 
that I should meet this man of God who 
could speak English and with whom I could 
communicate. But as time went on, I con- 
cluded that in the working out of the lives of 
God's people there is no chance, but that all 
events tend toward one end — and that is the 
accomplishment of God's holy purpose in the 
World. 

I was a stranger in a strange country, not- 
withstanding the fact that a quarter of a cen- 
tury prior to that I had passed through that 
city of contrasts on my way to the then, to me, 
unknown America. I can never express the 
joy I felt in meeting an Italian- American 



n6 Michele Nardi 

Protestant in that city of beauty and supersti- 
tion. Our conversation, as we walked through 
the Neapolitan streets, was, as might be sup- 
posed, of God, His work for the salvation of 
man, and Italy's need of the Gospel. The 
warm, frank, sincere heart of Brother Nardi 
shone through his face and words. I was 
attracted to him, and a true friendship began 
upon that night which will continue through- 
out eternity. 

It has been said, and I believe justly so, that 
the Spirit of God is communicated from soul 
to soul. The souls that are on fire, that are 
burning with the zeal of God — set other souls 
aglow. This certainly was true of Brother 
Nardi. No one could be with him ever for a 
day without loving him and at the same time 
without catching somewhat of his spirit. I 
had the pleasure of seeing much of him during 
my six months stay in Rome. And I saw 
then the great devotion of the man to the 
cause of God. Night after night, and day after 
day, he was ever about his Father's business. 
Preaching was his life — but the power of his 
preaching was not in his finished literary style, 
not in his use of classic words, but in the fact 
that he had a message, and that message was 



The Italian Evangelist 117 

given with his whole being. He really 
preached as a dying man to dying men. He in- 
carnated in his own life the substance of his 
preaching. Men could not help feeling the 
reality of his Christian life. His was a life 
given over completely to God for the service 
of men. He never considered his own interest 
or personal comfort. Whatever was for the 
welfare and advancement of the kingdom — 
that was his meat and drink. 

Then, too, while he had his own personal 
doctrinal views, he was able to work with any 
one who loved God and His service. I shall 
never forget how, when I was just beginning 
my work in Brooklyn, I was compelled to pass 
through some very difficult experiences. Bro- 
ther Nardi, like his divine Master, always 
ready to help those who needed help, offered 
to come over and help me in a series of meet- 
ings which lasted five weeks. For all those 
nights, rain or shine, he came from his home 
uptown in New York to assist me during that 
memorable season of refreshment. How our 
people loved to hear him, to see him, to speak 
with him ! 

In these days when there seems to be so 
much apathy and indifference to religious mat- 



n8 Michele Nardi 

ters, we hear it said that religion has lost its 
hold. But those who say this never have 
known what living religion really means. 
When religion is lived and incarnated — that is, 
when the love of God is truly seen in the life 
of a servant of God, it will always appeal. 
Brother Nardi never attempted any religious 
movement without getting results, without im- 
pressing people with the idea that he was a 
servant of the most high God, that he had a 
message which was vital to his own life and 
therefore of infinite value to those to whom he 
spoke. 

He was pre-eminently a founder of church- 
es. He has established and built more Protes- 
tant-Italian churches than any other man 
living or dead. To see Mr. Nardi at his best, 
to see his face shine with the glory of God, 
one had to see him as he was conducting a 
meeting during one of his great tent cam- 
paigns. I shall never forget my visit to him 
while he was laying the foundation for the 
big church in Philadelphia. Other men had 
worked there, others had attempted to reach 
the Italians, but all agreed in saying — "this is 
an awfully hard field" ; all saw great difficul- 
ties ; all saw impossibilities. They all, like the 



The Italian Evangelist 119 

spies of ancient times, said in their reports: 
"The people are really in need of God, but 
they are very much opposed to God." 
Brother Nardi was of the Caleb and Joshua 
type. He believed that the thing that seemed 
impossible to men could be accomplished in 
God and through His Spirit he opened his tent 
— the first to be opened in this country or any 
country for the purpose of reaching Italians. 
The results were beyond anything the Protes- 
tant people of Philadelphia could ever have 
expected. Night after night for three months 
that man of God held that great audience of 
six or seven hundred and fed it upon the 
Word of God and drew out of it a group of 
elect souls who formed the foundation for the 
church that is now rendering such fine service. 
This same solid work was repeated in three 
different places of New York City, and as a 
result of his untiring efforts and consecrated 
work three beautiful churches have been built 
in this city. 

Brother Nardi's character and spirit shone 
through everything he did. He was a con- 
sistent Christian. His life was an open book. 
You always knew where he stood on any ques- 
tion. No one ever felt a sense of uncertainty 



120 Michele Nardi 

about this man. His yea was yea and nay 
was nay. There were those who took advan- 
tage of his sincere and open soul, but he would 
never change his method of life. He had such 
boundless confidence that "all things work to- 
gether for good to them that love God" that 
he could not be turned aside from what he 
considered to be his duty, no matter how often 
he was deceived and disappointed. As I talked 
matters over with him, he would give a hearty 
laugh and say, "Well, God knows it all and 
He can fix it all up — He can make it all right." 
To him God was a reality, a God who really 
reigns in this world and who governs the af- 
fairs of men in wisdom and holy love. He 
felt he could place implicit trust in that God. 
He was indeed as a little child, and therefore 
he lived constantly in the kingdom of God. 
He practiced the presence of God. 

Throughout the length and breadth of this 
land and throughout Italy, where Italian 
churches are to be found, there the name of 
Brother Nardi is held in deep reverence. It 
is worth while to live as he lived. Some say 
he departed before his time, he consumed him- 
self in the work of God. Of him it may in 
truth be said, "The zeal of the Lord hath 



The Italian Evangelist 121 

eaten him up." But I do not share in that 
view. He did a work which no other man did 
in this country in Italian evangelization— his 
life has gone into the very texture of the life 
of our Italian churches. What more could be 
desired? He might have lived a few years 
more. His friends might have had the pleas- 
ure of his presence a little longer. But then 
if he had spared his life, he might not have 
done what he did. "He that loseth his life for 
my sake shall find it, but he that seeketh to 
save his life shall lose it/" Because he poured 
out his very life's blood, he brought his life to 
a close rapidly. He followed the example of 
his Lord, shared in His suffering, and so laid 
down his life. But that after all is his greatest 
glory. He never sought glory. He would 
often say to me, "Let others have the glory if 
I can do the will of God." But now God 
crowns him with glory. The eternal word of 
God cannot be other than true. "He that en- 
dures unto the end shall have the crown of 
life." 

I am grateful to God for the intimacy which 
I enjoyed with this man of God. He has been 
and still is a constant inspiration to me. I 
shall never forget the seasons of prayer we 



122 Michele Nardi 

had together with his dear wife who shared to 
the last all his noble endeavors. To be with 
these servants of God even for a short time 
now and then was like breathing the pure air 
of the mountains in summer time. I feel that 
I owe much to the holy and self-sacrificing ex- 
ample of my friend and brother, Mr. Nardi. 

The cause of Italian evangelization has lost, 
in the death of Brother Nardi, its foremost ad- 
vocate. I for one feel that his going home to 
be with God, in whose company he lived while 
here on earth, makes it all the more imperative 
for me to give myself more fully to the cause 
of Christ. I am sure that I express the senti- 
ment of many of my brethren when I say that 
Brother Nardi though absent in the flesh is 
still living among us and that his beautiful and 
devoted example makes us all long to imitate 
him in his love and devotion to his Master. 
Brother Nardi has become a permanent influ- 
ence in the lives of his brethren. I may be 
permitted to close this unfinished and inade- 
quate testimony to my friend by applying to 
him the words of St. John (Rev. 3:12). 

"To him that overcometh, will I make a pil- 
lar in the temple of my God, and he shall go 
no more out: and I will write upon him the 



The Italian Evangelist 123 

name of my God and the name of the city of 
my God which is New Jerusalem which com- 
eth down out of heaven from my God, and I 
will write upon him my new name." 

Antonio Mangani. 

Some Personal Recollections 

IT is of a very few persons, in our days, that 
it may be said: 'To have known him was 
to love him !" Our beloved Michele was one 
of this blessed company, I always remember 
the first time I met him : it is more than eigh- 
teen years ago. I was sitting in my office in 
the Y. M. C. A. of Rome, Italy, of which I was 
general secretary. It was a time of peculiar 
trials in my own life, a time of deep searchings 
of the heart, a time of spiritual lonesomeness 
when the need of a real friend, a friend of 
mature Christian experience and deep human 
sympathies, a friend wise in counsel, is felt 
more than ever. As brother Nardi entered 
my office, he opened his mouth and said: 
"Praise the Lord!" the blessed words that 
were always on his lips as a true expression 
of the faith which filled his soul, and was the 
secret of his blessed life. I felt immediately 
that he was the friend I needed whom God 



124 Michele Nardi 

was sending me, and my heart went toward 
him, as if I had known him for years. 

Later on we discovered that there were 
other things in common between us, besides 
our mutual interests and sympathies, yet I can- 
not say that our friendship became any 
stronger than it had been from the first. We 
found out that we were both born in the prov- 
ince of Ravenna (N. Italy) which, as all Ital- 
ians know, has always been productive in polit- 
ical agitators and martyrs, but is fiercely an- 
tagonistic to religion, chiefly because Roman- 
ism is the only form of religion known, and 
the Romagnoli hate the priests bitterly. How 
it made our hearts glad to think that we were 
both "brands plucked from the fire" and that 
if God saved us, He was able to save the 
Romagnoli as well as any other people. Years 
later we also discovered that we had family 
traditions in common, and traditions of the 
most sacred character. When brother Nardi, 
as a young lad, had enrolled among the vol- 
unteers of Garibaldi, he took part in the bat- 
tle of Mentana which was fought against the 
Papal army, backed up by the troops of Napo- 
leon III, in the year 1867. He was among 
those who assisted my father's brother when 



The Italian Evangelist 125 

he fell wounded on the battlefield, as he was 
leading the company to which our brother 
Nardi belonged. But our Michele's modesty- 
was such that I did not know of this for many 
years. One day, in the city of Philadelphia, 
Pa., where I was pastor at the time, he hap- 
pened to see a picture of my uncle which had 
been taken a few months before he fell in the 
battle of Mentana. He looked at it intently 
for a few moments, then he exclaimed: "I 
knew that man, I saw him fall ; he was my of- 
ficer at Mentana !" and thus the whole story 
came out. 

There are persons who attract us at first 
sight, but, on more intimate acquaintance, we 
lose much of our good opinion of them. Our 
dear brother was of the very opposite kind: 
the more you knew him, the more you dis- 
covered his sterling qualities. His public life 
and his private life, his preaching and his 
practice were in wonderful harmony and beau- 
tifully complemented each other. As a mis- 
sionary, he labored more than any of the older 
or younger ministers who have ever adorned 
Italian Protestantism either in Italy or in 
America. The churches which he organized 
from the start, or which he built up and saved 



126 Michele Nardi 

from collapse, may be counted in more than 
two figures. In this country his missionary 
activities stretched far and wide, from New 
York to California, north and south, wher- 
ever Italian colonies are to be found. In Italy 
his labors covered practically the whole coun- 
try from Sicily to Piedmont, at different times. 
I have had the privilege to succeed him in 
Philadelphia, Pa., after he had carried on a 
great Evangelistic campaign among the Ital- 
ians for several months. He had been sowing 
the good seed in such a way that, after a few 
months, one of the largest (if not the largest) 
Italian Protestant Churches of this country, 
the "First Italian Presbyterian Church" of 
Philadelphia was organized. Later on the 
" Second Italian Presbyterian Church" in West 
Philadelphia, and the flourishing Church of 
Germantown, Pa., were established as branch- 
es of the "First Church." Now both are in- 
dependent congregations with beautiful build- 
ings of their own and are led by young pas- 
tors, two of whom were converted in the 
"First Church." I am sure that such results 
could not have been obtained, in such a shore 
time, without the original impulse given by our 
beloved brother, whose prayers never ceased to 



The Italian Evangelist 127 

help, even when he was absent in body. The 
establishment of the Italian Department of the 
Bible Teachers' Training School in New York 
City, which, during the seven years of its ex- 
istence has sent more than ninety Italian 
young men and women throughout the United 
States as Bible teachers, missionaries, or as 
ordained ministers of many different denomi- 
nations, was due to a large extent to the wise 
counsels and advice that our beloved brother 
gave to the Rev. Dr. W. W. White, the Presi- 
dent of the School. And the influence of the 
personality of Brother Nardi upon the charac- 
ter of many of these young students, whom he 
often visited at 541 Lexington Avenue, where 
the beautiful home of the school is located, 
was indeed incalculable, especially in the case 
of those (nearly 35 of them) who had been 
formerly priests in the Romish church, and 
who saw in our brother's character that of a 
real saint, such as they had never conceived 
before they knew him. But if Brother Nardi 
had not studied many books, he was intimately 
acquainted with The Book in such a way, that 
very few men could surpass him. And he also 
had a profound knowledge of the world, and 
of men, and this knowledge helped to make 



128 Michele Nardi 

him awiseand indeed a greatwinner of souls. 
His language was at all times plain, forceful 
and picturesque. His pulpit illustrations were 
nearly always the result of his own observa- 
tions, and of such a character that his hearers 
seldom forgot the truths they were intended 
to convey. When I was associated with him in 
Rome, Italy, where the standard of intellectu- 
ality is of the highest kind, I have ofter heard 
college professors, officers in the army, and 
other such prominent persons, declare that 
they preferred to listen to the plain sermons of 
our dear brother, rather than to the more elab- 
orate pulpit deliveries of the prominent 
preachers of the city ! They all knew and felt 
that he believed every word he said, and the 
effect of this was that they forgot whatever 
literary imperfection there might have been in 
his addresses. Somebody has called our 
friend "The Moody of Italy \" It has been 
my privilege to count the great American 
evangelist among my personal friends. It was 
he, indeed, who in God's providence was 
instrumental in giving me the courage to stand 
before an audience and to testify for Christ, 
when my previous experience had been such 
as to make me think that my natural timidity 







V. 



--X 



X 






The Italian Evangelist 129 

made me unfit to serve God as a Preacher. 
So I can bear testimony that the spirit of 
Brother Nardi was very similar to that of D. 
L. Moody, but since it has been my privilege 
to meet and to listen to Dr. John Henry Jow- 
ett, I have felt that not only spiritually, but 
physically as well, the two marvellously re- 
semble each other, and this impression is 
shared by several mutual friends. Whenever 
I have the opportunity to attend the Fifth 
Avenue Presbyterian Church and to listen to 
Dr. Jowett, I seem to hear the voice and see 
the face of il caro Michele, and my eyes moist- 
en as I think that my beloved friend has now 
departed. And yet, wherefore weep? Our 
friend is alive and waiting to meet us ! The 
goal is the same for him as for us. Dear 
Michele! thou hast only preceeded us. May 
we, following thy blessed example, be ever 
watching and waiting when the Bridegroom 
shall come ! And then thou also shalt appear 
with Him in glory and we shall hear thee 
say once more, as when on earth: 'Praise 
the Lord!" And we shall join with thee 
praising Him for ever and ever! 

Rev. Prof. Agide Pirazzini, D. D. 



130 Michele Nardi 

Some Characteristics of Michele Nardi 

MY first recollections of Mr. Nardi go 
back to the winter of 1 900-1 901, when, 
being a soldier in Rome, I used to attend the 
meetings held by him in a fine and central hall 
in Via Cavour. The impression received at 
that time and which was strengthened in New 
York where I had the privilege of knowing 
him more intimately, is that Michele Nardi 
was an exceptionally consecrated man. 

When I think of him, six things, among 
others, make me say: I well perceive that he 
had been with Jesus. 

1. His attitude towards his wife, who, hav- 
ing become both blind and deaf, was depend- 
ing almost entirely on him. He never showed 
the least impatience; but always the most re- 
spectful attention, the most tender help. 

2. His happiness. Whenever I met Mr. 
Nardi at home, in public meetings, in society, I 
found him of good cheer and bright. His motto 
as well as that of his noble companion was: 
"Praise the Lord!" This was continually on 
his lips and reported on the first page of every 
copy of the Bible or portion of the Scripture 
he distributed and in every letter he wrote. 



The Italian Evangelist 131 

3. His sincere, his ardent desire to evange- 
lize. I do not think that, after his conversion, 
Mr. Nardi ever made a new acquaintance 
among his countrymen without giving him a 
message from the Gospel. This explains how 
he could start, and bring to quite a prosperous 
condition so many Italian missions. It was 
not only because, not having had an evange- 
lical preparation he felt he could not preach 
for years to the same congregation that he 
moved so often from one field to another ; it 
was because of his great wish to evangelize as 
many people as possible. I remember him say- 
ing to me one day, in his apartment, in the 
beautiful church building (the gift of Mrs. 
John S. Kennedy) recently erected in Charlton 
Street: "Don't you think that this is a fine 
house to live in? I am not going to occupy it 
very long. It is for my successor." And yet his 
audience was growing, growing. He was plan- 
ning to go to Tripoli to conquer for God, with 
the two-edged sword of His Word, that place 
newly conquered by the Italian guns. God 
had disposed differently. 

This points out a new characteristic, 

4. His readiness to go wherever the Lord 
called him. Where there was need of the 



132 Michele Nardi 

Gospel, that was his place, no matter if it was 
not the least attractive. "Do not be like those 
who are looking for the fine churches/' he said 
on one occasion, to the Italian students of the 
Bible Teachers Training School, "Work faith- 
fully where you are . . . Wait . . .The Lord is 
the One who must call you. He is the One 
who must say to you: 'My friend, come up 
higher.' " 

5. His spirit of prayer. The time he and his 
wife spent on their knees, only God knows. 
And his were not selfish prayers. I mean, he 
did not pray only for his own work. There 
was no Christian work with which he did not 
feel in sympathy, and for which he did not 
pray with all his heart. 

6. His profound conviction that "the Gospel 
is the power of God unto salvation." For every 
voice that said to him : "They will not be per- 
suaded, they will not be converted to the God 
of Jesus Christ/' another voice, far stronger, 
responded: "And still God has converted me. 
I was indifferent, I thought only of making 
money, I was enthusiastic about the career 
that was opening before me, when God, sud- 
denly, by means of His Word, drew me to 



The Italian Evangelist 133 

other thoughts ... of that man proud of him- 
self and full of earthly dreams He made a 
servant of Jesus Christ! What He did to 
me will He not do to others ?" 

Rev. P. Griglio, 
Pastor of Waldensian Con- 
gregation of New York. 

A Tribute from Italy 

WHO does not remember that ascetic 
figure, enlightened, from time to time, 
by a smile of infinite sweetness, which revealed 
the man of God, rich with the true evangelical 
piety? 

Michele Nardi in the solemn prayer meet- 
ing held the evening before the inauguration 
of the new church in Piazza Cavour, poured 
our his mystic soul in fervent supplication to 
God, and this was the last time that here, in 
Rome, we heard that indefatigable pioneer of 
the Gospel. 

He fell asleep in the Lord, last Tuesday, in 
Rapallo, where because of the mild climate, he 
had looked for a little relief from the disease 
with which he was afflicted. To the end he 



134 Michele Nardi 

gave testimony to the hope that was in him, 
leaving there a nucleus of believers without 
ecclesiastical or denominational aim. 

Michele Nardi was one of the most notable 
examples of how the grace of God can raise up 
a living witness of the Truth that is in Jesus 
Christ. He was the genuine type of the Ital- 
ian-American, who had his birth on Italian 
soil but was born of the Spirit in the United 
States of America. 

He was hardly twenty-one years old when, 
about forty years ago, he emigrated. Natural- 
ly gifted and having a special talent for busi- 
ness, he soon found himself at the head of 
various enterprises for the building of roads, 
bridges, etc., in almost uninhabited regions. 
He, with his gangs of workers, was living a 
camp life far from the great centers, lodging 
in improvised shacks that were always pushed 
farther on, a true nomad life with the only 
purpose of making money. In this he was 
successful. 

Nichele Nardi up to that time was not oc- 
cupied with nor had interest in the things of 
God. He was born in the midst of Roman- 
ism, but the Catholic church with its hostile 



The Italian Evangelist 135 

attitude to the national aspirations, had made 
him, as many others, indifferent in the 
matter of religion. But when he realized his 
privilege to become a child of God, he did 
not hesitate to sacrific his brilliant future of 
a fortunate enterpriser of probable wealth, 
and he abandoned business in order to retire 
in one of his shacks and there to mediate on 
the Word of God. Like St. Paul in Arabia, 
he spent much time in meditation and prayer, 
attending only the school of the Great Master. 
When he came out from his retreat, he was 
an apostle and remained so to the end. 

Necessary data is lacking to follow step by 
step Michele Nardi in his apostleship in the 
United States; it is enough to say that when- 
ever he met our poor emigrants, he preached 
the Gospel to them, and this became the in- 
strument, in the hands of God, for founding 
Italian evangelical churches in the United 
States of America. Although Nardi was not 
a partisan of any church, he especially worked 
in connection with the Presbyterians and fin- 
ally he had charge of the work in the Charlton 
Street Memorial Church, New York City, the 
beautiful building due to the generosity of 



136 Michele Nardi 

Mrs. John S. Kennedy. He was a sincere 
friend of the Waldensian Church whose pro- 
gress he had always in his heart. We honor 
his memory as that of one who fell in the 
breach, and so to his life companion, always 
serene, we say: "He is not dead, he sleeps 
. . . He rests from his labours but his works 
follow him." 

Rev. A. Muston, ex-President of the Wald- 
ensian Board of Evangelization, in "La 
Luce," July 30, 1914. Translated by Rev. 
P. Griglio. 



A Tribute 

SOMEONE else has written or will write a 
biography of this great man. This is only 
a tribute to his memory. 

We are apt to remember always the first 
and the last meeting with a friend. I met Mr. 
M. Nardi a few years ago for the first time, 
and immediately I felt that what I had heard 
of him was less than the truth. I remember 
his penetrating glance, -the ardor of the saint 
radiating from all his person. Every word, 




MRS. MICHELE XARDI 



The Italian Evangelist 137 

every act, was clear-cut and bore the mark of 
great decision and of an unyielding will. 

Mr. Nardi, in the prime of his life had 
been a successful business man, and he be- 
came a successful evangelist. I do not know 
if Italy has ever had another evangelist who 
may be compared to Nardi. His way of 
expounding the Scriptures was simple, power- 
ful, dramatic. Every word aimed at finding 
the way into the innermost heart of the hearer. 
He seemed without physical strength, but the 
moment he began to speak you saw the vigor 
of a lion. His prayer — I cannot forget his 
prayer — was a talk with God. 

Masterful also was his way of constraining 
the attention of indifferent and even sneering 
ones. I remember when we were in Nyack 
for a short vacation, Mr. Nardi was talking of 
the coming of the Lord. It was a private con- 
versation. One of the listeners said rather 
flippantly, "It will be nice when He will 
come." The man Nardi was transformed, he 
became terrible ; with a great agility he stepped 
forward and, pointing at the unfortunate in- 
terrupter, cried aloud, rather thundered: 
"But not for you! You tremble !" A thun- 



138 Michele Nardi 

derbolt would not have scared more the world- 
ly man he was addressing. 

In speaking of Mr. Nardi allow me a last 
scene. A few friends went to see him when 
he was sailing for Italy; alas — the last time. 
We had a service on the steamer, then we 
waited the departure from the pier. It seems 
now; we were gazing at that fine couple — he, 
the tall, slender figure, and his beloved wife, 
the noble Christian blind woman, Mr. Nardi's 
most powerful human helper. As the steamer 
went slowly away and we were saluting each 
other, I thought of those two old people going 
again to evangelize Italy, and I said to myself, 
who knows whether we shall see each other 
again this side of the river ; and when the pas- 
sengers were no longer distinguishable, we 
departed. I thought: We are like travelers 
who during the trip lose sight of each other, 
but some day we will find ourselves side by 
side on that morning on the eternal shore. 

Rev. G. Petrelli. 



L 



A Personal Letter 

AST evening I received a postal card 
from Mr. D'Anchise telling me of dear 



The Italian Evangelist 139 

Mr. Nardi's going home. I cannot tell you 
how I felt. It was a thunder bolt from a clear 
sky — and it shocked me. I could not help to 
cry to God from the bottom of my soul, "My 
God, what shall we do without Mr. Nardi. 
What Mrs. Nardi will do without him ?" And 
it seemed as if God answered my cry, saying, 
"I wanted my servant in My glory and I, even 
I, your God, will take care of you all." 

What shall I say to you, dear Mrs. Nardi? 
I cannot find words to say anything. My heart 
is too sore. I can only pray for you. I know 
exactly how you feel I have been there. But 
God gave me His wonderful peace, and healed 
my wounded heart, and He will do the same 
for you; I know He will. 

Mrs. Brunn and our children are praying 
for you, and if you will return to America, 
do not forget that our house is yours ; we have 
a spare room waiting for you. We would be 
glad and fortunate to have you with us. 

On September 13th we shall hold a Me- 
morial Service for Mr. Nardi in the Charlton 
Street Church. I wish you could be here then. 
Drs. Shauffler, Makinney and Pirazzini will 
speak, and I hope Dr. D'Anchise will be 



140 Michele Nardi 

here to tell us about Mr. Nardi's last days. 
I will send you a full report of the meeting. 

In closing, dear Mrs. Nardi, let me exhort 
you to look up to the Lord, where Mr. Nardi 
is waiting for us, where we shall be united 
with the dear Lord for ever, where there shall 
be no more sin, no more sorrow, no more pain, 
no more separation. "Forever with the 
Lord." 

Rev. Joseph Brunn. 

A Memorial 

ONE of the greatest sorrows of my life 
was when I had to be parted, even 
though for a little time, from a faithful and 
dear friend, an apostle of the Lord Jesus. I 
have known Nardi for over 15 years, but I 
had the privilege to know Brother Nardi in- 
timately in this city of Rapallo where we met 
in June and July, 1914. He was a man of 
strong character, of simple faith, a man of 
charity and love. He loved the brethren and 
the believers with whom he prayed; he loved 
the young people who heard him gladly; he 
loved the common people, and he was greatly 



The Italian Evangelist 141 

moved when praying for them. He was a 
man of prayer,, mighty in the Scriptures, 
sanctified by the spirit of Jesus, constantly in 
communion with the Master, an apostle whom 
Italy and the world needed. With equal fa- 
cility he preached in several languages, and 
succeeded in gathering around him Christians 
of different nationalities who, in the Christian 
Meeting-hall of Rapallo edified each other in 
the presence of their beloved pastor, and with 
joy and simplicity of heart partook of the 
Lord's Supper. He had a melodious voice 
and filled with the Spirit, he preached not only 
by his words but by his whole life. His ritual 
was the Gospel, his catechism the Gospel, his 
theology the Gospel, and when we were think- 
ing he was "the right man" for the little flock 
left to him by dear Brother Mauro, the Lord 
called him to Himself. He always was ready 
and watching like a true servant of God who 
knew the Father's voice, answered the call 
without hesitancy and without surprise, leav- 
ing his dear wife, so tried already, to travel 
alone the rest of the journey with equal 
strength of character, faith and trust in God. 

Rev. Paolo Gay. 



142 Michele Nardi 

Tribute 

WHEN I heard of the death of Mr. 
Nardi, I was deeply touched; for I 
knew what a great loss it meant to Italian 
Evangelization. Though I am not a convert 
of Mr. Nardi's preaching, I had the opportun- 
ity to hear him many, many times, and his sin- 
cere preaching of the Gospel left in me a deep 
impression. I felt the message was straight 
from God through him, for no one could do 
as he did unless God was with him. 

I am sure there is not a work in the United 
States and Italy carried on among the Italians 
where the name of Mr. Nardi is not severed. 

The sixty or more churches which were 
built through his untiring efforts will remain 
as monuments to his memory and a watch- 
tower of light to those who are living in dark- 
ness. We can truly say of Mr. Nardi : "He, 
being dead, yet speaketh." 

Now he is with his Master enjoying the 
reward of his labors, where we shall meet him 
and join him in the song of Moses and the 
Lamb. 

Joseph F. Piretti. 



The Italian Evangelist 143 

An Appreciation 

I HAVE learned with deep sorrow of the 
home going of your beloved husband and 
that I really feel as if a member of my family 
had been stricken. I never knew a sweeter, 
purer, more heroic figure than Michele 
Nardi. Like so many of our Alliance people 
the revelation of Jesus transfigured him, and 
he will ever stand in my mental picture gal- 
lery as a companion picture to the radiant 
faces of John Cookman, Henry Wilson, A. J. 
Gordon, Dr. Barnet, Nellie Griffin, and others 
I could name. His soul was absolutely spot- 
less and heavenly. His mind was keen, his 
ministry marvelously owned of God. He was, 
indeed, a Christian hero. I can scarcely sym- 
pathize with you, dear Blanche. It seemed 
fitting that he should be glorified, and soon 
we shall see him coming and hear him shout 
again, "Praise the Lord/' 

Rev. A. B. Simpson. 



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